WSOC Notes - 10.17.19
NEW YORK – BIG EAST women’s soccer teams begin the homestretch of conference play this weekend as all 10 teams will play their sixth league tilt of the year. The postseason picture will begin to take shape, as the top six teams in the final standings qualify for the BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep, while the top two squads earn byes directly into the semifinals. Among the five matches this weekend, including two streaming on the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi, is a rematch of the last two BIG EAST Championship title games as No. 11 Georgetown travels to Butler on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET. Also on BEDN on Sunday at 1 p.m., Xavier visits St. John’s.
Why We’re Watching …
Seton Hall at DePaul (Saturday, 1 p.m., DePaulBlueDemons.com): The Pirates will look to solve some early season struggles when they begin the second half of conference play. The Hall tried a pair of new goalkeepers in Sunday’s setback to Marquette, with Jackie Robinson making her season debut, while Blair Currie played for the second time this year. They combined for five saves. The Pirate defense will be tested against a dangerous DePaul offense led by Morgan Turner. Turner has five goals on the year, including three game winners, while rookie Kristin Boos lists second overall in the BIG EAST with 3.92 shots per game.
Providence at Creighton (Saturday, 2 p.m., GoCreighton.com): This was a win-or-go-home season finale match a year ago which saw the Friars rally from a 2-0 deficit to thwart Creighton’s postseason hopes in overtime, 3-2. The Bluejays are a new team, thanks in part to rookie standout Skylar Heinrich. Creighton will need to earn some points in the back half of the league slate in order to get the chance of playing on its home turf in November when CU hosts the 2019 BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship. The Friars are currently in a three-way tie for fifth place in the league standings, going through a difficult stretch of four consecutive matches against teams in the top half of the standings. Heinrich will look to beat stellar goalkeeper Shelby Hogan, who leads the BIG EAST with 6.40 saves per contest in league action.
#11 Georgetown at Butler (Sunday, 1 p.m., BEDN): A rematch of the last two BIG EAST Championship title games, as well as a battle between first and second-place teams, this game has it all. GU’s Amanda Carolan and BU’s Katie Soderstrom are tied for the BIG EAST lead with four goals over the first five conference games, while each starting goalkeeper has surrendered just three scores in conference play – the Hoyas’ Anna Leat and the Bulldogs’ Stephanie Rodriguez – to tie for the lead among BIG EAST keepers with five appearances. Butler will look to end Georgetown’s streak in the series as the Hoyas are unbeaten against the Bulldogs over the last six contests (5-0-1), including the last two tournament title matches.
Xavier at St. John’s (Sunday, 1 p.m., BEDN): The Musketeers have been dominant at home this season (5-0-1) but will take their show on the road for three of the final four matches, beginning Sunday in Queens. XU has taken a whopping 90 shots over the first five BIG EAST games, resulting in 11 goals – second most among league teams. Seven different XU players have scored in conference play, including three apiece by Samantha Dewey and Brooke Sroka. The Red Storm will look to get over the hump as three of their last four matches have been decided by a single goal. Zsani Kajan has the ability to go off at any point, including her two-goal outing in an overtime setback to Marquette last week.
Villanova at Marquette (Sunday, 2 p.m., GoMarquette.com): Both carry three-game unbeaten streaks into Sunday’s meeting but the Wildcats hold a three-point advantage in the standings. Both squads have found their offensive grooves over the last three matches, scoring a combined nine goals while surrendering just three to both go 2-0-1. Alyssa Bombacino notched the first hat trick in BIG EAST play this season this past Sunday to lead MU with nine points on the year, while Chloe O’Neill has five points over the last two games to tie for the team lead with 11 points on the year.
Upcoming Schedule
Saturday
Seton Hall at DePaul, 1 p.m.*
Providence at Creighton, 2 p.m.*
Sunday
#11 Georgetown at Butler, 1 p.m.*^
Xavier at St. John’s, 1 p.m.*^
Villanova at Marquette, 2 p.m.*
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest
^BEDN