BOX SCORE
OMAHA – Top-seeded Xavier defeated second-seeded Georgetown 2-0 in the BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep Sunday afternoon at cold and windy Morrison Stadium in Omaha, Neb. The tournament crown is the first for the Musketeers, who dethroned the three-time reigning champion Hoyas. XU senior midfielder Grace Bahr was named the BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Defensive Player, while teammate Brooke Sroka, a sophomore forward, was tabbed Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Xavier earns the BIG EAST’s automatic bid into the 2019 NCAA Championship, its third berth in program history and first since 2000.
Blustery winds played a pivotal factor, with Xavier (16-3-2) taking advantage of the wind at its back in the first half, scoring a pair of goals. Sorka struck first, scoring in the 11
th minute off a feed from Bahr with what proved to be the game winner. Bahr added the dish on the Musketeers’ second goal, which Gabrielle Lopresti notched in the 36
th minute as Xavier took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Georgetown (13-4-3) threatened throughout the second half with the wind now at its backs, outshooting Xavier 7-1 over the final 45. Despite the opportunities, Toni Bizzarro stood strong in net for the Musketeers, finishing with eight saves to earn the shutout victory. Georgetown finished with a 15-9 advantage on shots and 6-4 lead in corner kicks.
Sroka and Bahr were joined on the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team by fellow Musketeers Molly McLaughlin and Macy Harper, while Georgetown was represented by Amanda Carolan, Sarah Trissel and Julia Leas. Providence’s Shelby Hogan and Mara Rodriguez and Villanova’s Kristin Barbour and Conner Huggins were also named to the all-tournament team.
Xavier becomes the 11
th different program to win the BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship. With back-to-back shutouts in the conference tournament, the Musketeers are the ninth team to win the tourney without surrendering a goal and first since the 2017 Hoyas. The Xavier win is the first in series history with Georgetown.
The 2019 NCAA Selection Show is set for Monday, Nov. 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NCAA.com. Xavier, which has won seven straight matches, will learn its first-round opponent and location, while Georgetown will hope to receive an at-large invitation. The Hoyas have qualified for seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments, advancing to the College Cup in two of the last three seasons.
2019 BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep
Sunday, Nov. 3
BIG EAST Championship First Round – No. 6 Providence 1, No. 3 Butler 1^
PC advances on PKs, 5-4
BIG EAST Championship First Round – at No. 4 Villanova 1, No. 5 DePaul 0^
Thursday, Nov. 7 – Omaha, Neb.
BIG EAST Championship Semifinals – No. 1 seed Xavier 2, No. 4 seed Villanova 0^
BIG EAST Championship Semifinals – No. 2 seed Georgetown 2, No. 6 seed Providence 0^
Sunday, Nov. 10 – Omaha, Neb.
BIG EAST Championship Final – No. 1 seed Xavier 2, No. 2 seed Georgetown 0#
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest
^BEDN
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