#BEfútbol Minute – Penultimate Weekend Has Playoff Implications
BIG EAST Men's Soccer Update (11.1.19)
NEW YORK – The penultimate playdate of the BIG EAST men’s soccer season has arrived with all five games on the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi. Seeding and berths are on the line as teams begin to wrap up the 2019 season. No. 3 Georgetown at Villanova kicks off the big Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. A No. 1 seed is on the line for the Hoyas. Xavier hosts Providence at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m., No. 8 St. John’s hosts DePaul. The Red Storm is playing for a semifinal spot and a bye in the upcoming BIG EAST Championship. At 8 p.m., Butler plays at Creighton and Seton Hall plays at Marquette. Providence and Butler could be the next to qualify for the tournament field.
Georgetown Tops D1 Men’s Soccer Committee’s Top 16 Reveal
On Friday, Nov. 1, the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee unveiled its top 16 ranking for the upcoming NCAA tournament field. The top 16 correspond to the number of teams that are seeded in the 48-team NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship bracket. Using the selection criteria and results through games of October 30, Georgetown is the top-ranked team with a record of 13-1-1. The Hoyas are leading the Big East and are unbeaten in their last eight games (7-0-1), including not allowing a single goal in the month of October and only five all season. St. John’s, currently in second in the BIG EAST standings at 5-1-1, was ranked seventh. The ranking is based on the criteria used to select and seed the 48 teams for the Division I Men’s Soccer Championship and includes strength of schedule, Rating Percentage Index, head-to-head competition, results versus common opponents and significant wins and losses. The top 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament field will be seeded and receive first-round byes before hosting second-round games. The field will be announced on Monday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com.
What To Expect This Weekend
No. 3 GEORGETOWN at VILLANOVA (1 p.m., Saturday - BEDN)
WATCH - Caffeine | YouTube
Georgetown has already clinched a BIG EAST Championship playoff berth and a first-round bye as one of the top two seeds. With a win over Villanova (8-7-1, 1-5-1), the Hoyas can claim at least a share of the BIG EAST regular season title and the No. 1 seed. Villanova is currently in last place in the BIG EAST standings, but, a win against Georgetown would keep them in the mix for tournament contention. Derek Dodson leads Georgetown with 18 points on six goals, six assists. The Hoyas are coming off a 3-0 win over Marquette. Villanova, lost a heartbreaker at Butler on Sunday, 1-0, in double overtime. Villanova is led by Lyam Mackinnon with eight points (2G, 4A). Georgetown leads the overall series against Villanova, 25-7-4. Last year, Villanova won 2-1 in overtime.
PROVIDENCE at XAVIER (5 p.m., Saturday - BEDN)
WATCH – Caffeine | YouTube
Xavier is on the hot streak, playing out of the bottom of the BIG EAST standings into fifth place on a three-game winning streak. The Musketeers have defeated Seton Hall (2-1) and DePaul (1-0) in their league run and most recently closed out its non-conference season, 4-0, against UNC Asheville. Providence could have a chance to clinch a playoff spot should the Friars win. The Friars, led by Davis Smith and Joao Serrano with 12 points each (4G, 4A), are on a two-game winning streak. Last week, Providence defeated Creighton, 3-2, in overtime. Xavier is led by Samson Sergi with 17 points (8G, 1A). Providence leads the all-time series 4-3-1. Last year, Providence shutout the Musketeers, 2-0. Xavier won both meetings in 2017, the regular season and the tournament first round game.
DePaul at No. 8 St. JOHN’S (7 p.m., Saturday - BEDN)
WATCH – Caffeine | YouTube
St. John’s is playing with a first-round BIG EAST Championship bye on the line. A win for the Red Storm would claim the second remaining home field advantage and bye to the BIG EAST semifinals as one of the top two seeds. The Johnnies are currently riding their first winless streak of the season, suffering their only loss of BIG EAST play against Georgetown on Oct. 23 before drawing with Seton Hall, 1-1, on Saturday evening in South Orange. A win on Saturday would give the Red Storm its first six-win effort in BIG EAST play since 2009. DePaul is currently in ninth place in the standings with a 1-3-3 record and six points. St. John’s is led by Tani Oluwaseyi with 21 points on nine goals, three assists. DePaul is coming into Saturday on a two-game losing skid having lost to Xavier, 1-0, and Creighton, 1-0. DePaul is led by Jake Fuderer and Max de Bruijne with 10 points each (3G, 4A). St. John’s leads the all-time series 8-3-4. Last year, these two teams played to a 2-2 draw.
BUTLER at CREIGHTON (8 p.m. Saturday - BEDN)
WATCH – Caffeine | YouTube
Like Providence, Butler can also qualify for one of the top six BIG EAST playoff spots with a win at Creighton. Butler sits at fourth place with 10 points. The Bluejays are in a three-way tie for fifth place with nine conference points. Creighton owns a 7-2-1 record in the all-time series, including a 3-0-1 advantage in matches played in Omaha. Butler has won two of the last three meetings between the programs, which included a 3-2 overtime victory in the 2017 BIG EAST opener as well as a 2-1 win in the 2016 BIG EAST Tournament championship match. Last year, Creighton shutout the Bulldogs, 3-0. Butler is playing off a 1-0 double overtime victory at home against Villanova, while Creighton is looking to rebound off a 3-2 overtime loss on the road at Providence. Wilmer Cabrera Jr., leads Butler in points with 15 on six goals, three assists. Creighton is led by Luke Haakenson with 12 points (5G, 2A).
SETON HALL at MARQUETTE (8 p.m., Saturday - BEDN)
WATCH – Caffeine | YouTube
Marquette has a one game edge in the all-time series against Seton Hall, 6-5-3. Seton Hall won the last meeting in 2018 in South Orange, 2-0. Marquette won 2-0 last time they played in Milwaukee. From 2015 - 2018, the home team has won the contest. In the current BIG EAST standings, Marquette is in the three-way tie for fifth with nine points (3-4-0). Seton Hall is in eighth with seven points. The Golden Eagles are coming off 3-0 loss at Georgetown. Seton Hall (2-4-1 BIG EAST) drew with then-No. 4 St. John’s 1-1 at home. The Pirates lost their final non-conference game of the season, 2-1 to Army West Point on Tuesday. Josh Coan leads Marquette with 14 points (5G, 4A). Stephen Elias leads Seton Hall with 11 points (4G, 3A).
Upcoming #BEfútbol Schedule
Saturday, Nov. 2 ^
GEORGETOWN at VILLANOVA, 1 p.m.
PROVIDENCE at XAVIER, 5 p.m.
DEPAUL at ST. JOHN’S, 7 p.m.
BUTLER at CREIGHTON, 8 p.m.
SETON HALL at MARQUETTE, 8 p.m.
^ All games on the BIG EAST Digital Network Presented by SoFi
#BEfútbol Results
Tuesday, Oct. 29
XAVIER 4, UNC Asheville 0
Army West Point 2, SETON HALL 1
All times listed are Eastern.