#BEfútbol Minute – Three Games On BEDN This Saturday
NEW YORK – St. John’s remains the team to beat at the midway point in the 2019 men’s soccer schedule. The Red Storm is 4-0-0 in BIG EAST play and ranked seventh nationally. Georgetown is also unbeaten in conference action with a 3-0-1 record.
The Red Storm’s 11-1-0 start is the best for the program since 1993, when the Johnnies won 13 of their first 14 contests in the midst of a 21-game unbeaten streak to begin the campaign.
It is a full fútbol Saturday for the BIG EAST, starting with two games on the BIG EAST Digital Network Presented by SoFi at 1 p.m. ET, Xavier at No. 13 Georgetown and Butler at Seton Hall. DePaul will host DePaul on BEDN at 4 p.m.
The two games not on BEDN this weekend is Marquette at Villanova (1 p.m.) and No. 7 St. John’s at Creighton (8 p.m.).
Watch Here on BEDN:
Saturday, Oct. 19
Butler at Seton Hall, 1 p.m. ET
(Caffeine | YouTube)
Xavier at No. 13 Georgetown, 1 p.m. ET
(Caffeine | YouTube)
Providence at DePaul, 4 p.m., ET
(Caffeine | YouTube)
Standings Summary
Behind St. John’s (12 points) and Georgetown (10), Providence, Creighton and Seton Hall are tied for third with 6 points and identical 2-2-0 records. Villanova an Butler are tied for sixth place at 1-2-1 and 4 points. DePaul, Xavier and Marquette all have three points at the bottom of the standings. All three of DePaul’s points in the league standings have been via ties. The Blue Demons played Villanova and Georgetown to scoreless draws, but last week, tied with Butler 2-2. Xavier has beaten Creighton, Marquette has a win over Xavier.
Midweek Roundup
BIG EAST men’s soccer continues to go unbeaten in non-league action with another three wins this week. Butler defeated Lipscomb 2-1 on the road in Nashville and Villanova defeated La Salle on Tuesday night, 2-1. On Monday, Georgetown defeated defending national champion Maryland 1-0 in front of a primetime audience on FS1. The BIG EAST has not lost a non-conference game since Oct. 1. Since then, the BIG EAST has won 10 consecutive non-league contests. Two non-conference games remain on the 2019 regular season schedule. Seton Hall will host Army West Point and Xavier hosts UNC Asheville on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
BIG EAST Ranks No. 2 In First NCAA RPI Report
On Monday, the first NCAA RPI was released. BIG EAST men’s soccer was ranked second in the RPI, just behind the ACC. All 10 teams are ranked in the top 100 of the RPI. St. John’s was No. 2 in the RPI behind Virginia. Georgetown checked in at No. 5. In the top 50, Butler was ranked 33rd, DePaul 35th, Villanova 42nd and Providence 48th. Creighton is next at No. 57, Seton Hall No. 58, Xavier No. 74 and Marquette No. 98. The BIG EAST is 5-4-2 (.545) against teams in the United Soccer Coaches Poll Top 25 this year.
What to Expect In Week 5
Butler at Seton Hall (1 p.m., Saturday - BEDN)
Seton Hall (5-5-0, 2-2-0) and Butler (7-4-1, 1-2-1) will meet for the seventh time in history on Saturday afternoon. Butler leads the all-time series 4-1-1. Last year, Seton Hall picked up the first win of the series, edging Butler, 2-1, in Indianapolis. Butler has played three consecutive overtime matches and has posted a 2-0-1 record during the that time. Seton Hall had their four-game winning streak come to a halt last Friday at Georgetown when the Pirates lost 2-0 to the then-12th ranked Hoyas. Stephen Elias leads the Pirates in points this season with 10 (4G, 2A). For Butler, Wilmer Cabrera Jr. and Brandon Guhl share the point-leader spot with nine each. Sophomore goalie Gabriel Gjergji has been a key piece for the Bulldogs this year with a 1.10 goals against average and 54 saves.
Xavier at No. 13 Georgetown (1 p.m., Saturday - BEDN)
Georgetown (10-1-1, 4-0-1) comes into Saturday’s game on a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1) and coming off a rivalry win over No. 25 Maryland on Monday, 1-0. Xavier (5-5-1, 1-3-0) just netted its first league win of 2019 last Friday, 1-0 at Creighton, with a PK goal by Samson Sergi. Xavier has the slight series advantage over Georgetown with a record of 5-4-0 all-time against the Hoyas. The Hoyas are 3-2-0 against the Musketeers at home on Shaw Field. Georgetown is off to its best start in history, tying the 2012 season with the 10-1-1 record. Georgetown has not allowed a goal since Sept. 28, a 2-1 win over Providence. Xavier’s win over Creighton last week ended a three-game slump for the Musketeers. Last season, XU defeated GU, 3-2, with a goal in the 87th minute. Derek Dodson leads the Hoyas in points with 13 (4G, 5A). For Xavier, Sergi also has 13 points (6G, 1A).
Marquette at Villanova (1 p.m., Saturday)
Villanova (8-4-1, 1-2-1) and Marquette (5-6-1, 1-3-0) are separated by one point in the current BIG EAST standings. Villanova leads the all-time series 4-2-1. Last season, Marquette won 3-0. It was the first Golden Eagle victory in the series since 2013. VU is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings. Villanova comes into the game after defeating La Salle, 2-1, during midweek play. The Wildcats are coming off a 4-0 league loss on the road at St. John’s last weekend. Marquette lost to Providence last weekend, 2-0, playing one man short for 80 minutes. Josh Coan leads MU in scoring with 12 points (5G, 2A). Lyam Mackinnon has eight points (2G, 4A) to lead Villanova, but, keeper Carson Williams has been the key player for the Wildcats with 0.60 goals against average, six shutouts and 47 saves.
Providence at DePaul (4 p.m. Saturday, BEDN)
Providence (8-4-0, 2-2-0) and DePaul (4-5-3, 0-1-3) will meet for the ninth time in history. Providence leads the all-time series 4-1-3. Last year, DePaul defeated Providence, 2-1 in double overtime. Jake Fuderer scored the game-winner in the 107th minute. Saturday’s game will be played in conjunction with Alumni Day at DePaul. Joao Serrano leads the Friars in goals with five and sits second in assists on the team with three. Esben Wolf has notching a team-leading four assists. For DePaul, Max de Bruijne is the goal and points leader with three goals and three assists for nine points.
No. 7 St. John’s at Creighton (8 p.m., Saturday)
St. John’s (11-1-0, 4-0-0) looks to retain its unblemished BIG EAST record on the road against Creighton (6-4-1, 2-2-0) on Saturday night. Heading into the fifth game date of BIG EAST action, St. John’s has scored more than twice as many goals (12) as any team in the conference besides Georgetown (7). The Red Storm and the Hoyas have surrendered just one goal apiece in conference play, and aside from Creighton (2), no other team has allowed fewer than four. The Bluejays, who are 146-26-21 at Morrison Stadium since it opened in 2003, are coming off consecutive 1-0 road losses to Seton Hall and Xavier. Creighton is 5-1-0 at home this season. The Bluejays are led offensively by senior midfielder Luke Haakenson, who has scored four of the team’s 16 goals on the season. St. John’s sophomore Tani Oluwaseyi leads the league with 17 points and seven goals. St. John’s is 5-1-0 on the road. Creighton leads the all-time series against St. John’s, 5-3-2. The Bluejays won last season’s meeting, 3-1. In 2017, SJU and CU played to a 2-2 tie before lightning ended the match in the 81st minute.
BIG EAST Outscores opponents 141-72 In Non-Conference play
Since the season started Aug. 30, the BIG EAST has posted a 52-21-3 (.704) record against non-conference opponents. The BIG EAST has an unbeaten streak against the Ivy League at 5-0-0. The BIG EAST’s most played against conference is the Mid American and American. The league posts a 7-2-0 record opponents from both leagues.
Upcoming #BEfutbol Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 19
BUTLER at SETON HALL, 1 p.m. (
BEDN)
XAVIER at No. 13 GEORGETOWN, 1 p.m. (
BEDN)
MARQUETTE at VILLANOVA, 1 p.m.
PROVIDENCE at DEPAUL, 4 p.m. (
BEDN)
No. 7 ST. JOHN’S at CREIGHTON, 8 p.m.
All times listed are Eastern.