NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep kicked off in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon as the No. 6 seed upset the No. 3 seed for the third time in five years. Sixth-seeded Providence advanced past third-seeded Butler on penalty kicks, 5-4, after the two finished 110 minutes of action tied at 1-1. No. 4 seed Villanova also won by the narrowest of margins, knocking off No. 5 seed DePaul, 1-0. The Wildcats advance to face No. 1 seed and regular-season champion Xavier at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, followed by the Friars taking on three-time reigning champion and No. 2 seed Georgetown at 8:30 p.m. The BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi will have complete coverage of Thursday’s semifinals, live from Creighton’s Morrison Stadium in Omaha, Neb.
No. 6 Providence 1, No. 3 Butler 1 (2OT) – PC advances on PKs, 5-4
BOX SCORE
For the third time in five seasons, Providence as the No. 6 seed has upset the No. 3 seed in the first round. Butler becomes the third different No. 3 seed to get eliminated by the sixth-seeded Friars since realignment as PC bounced St. John’s in the 2018 first round and DePaul in the 2015 opening round. The win for Providence was its first over Butler in four postseason meetings as the Friars avenged semifinal losses to the Bulldogs in 2018 and 2017, and a title game setback in 2015.
Anja Savich got Butler (10-5-4) on the board just before halftime with her eighth goal of the season, while Amanda Kowalski was credited with the assist. The Bulldogs kept PC (8-8-3) off the board until a brilliant free kick goal from Hannah McNulty in the 83
rd minute evened the game at 1-1. Both teams were scoreless through 20 minutes of extra time, sending the game into a shootout. The Friars made their first four attempts and had an opportunity to win it in the fifth round but the shot went wide. Butler capitalized on the fifth-round Friar misstep after missing on its own second attempt, as both squads made four of their first five to send it into a make-or-break sixth attempt. Elayna Grillakis, who entered the contest with three game winners on the year, scored the go-ahead goal for PC in the sixth round of PKs, before goalkeeper Shelby Hogan made a diving save on Payton Black’s attempt to clinch the win. Providence has gone into PKs three times in BIG EAST Championship games since 2015, advancing in all three contests.
No. 4 Villanova 1, No. 5 DePaul 0
BOX SCORE
For the first time since 2004, Villanova is headed to the BIG EAST Championship Semifinals. Shannon Casey’s 30
th-minute header off a feed from Chloe O’Neill and Brice McInroy was the only scoring the Wildcats needed, who advance in the conference tournament for the first time since 2009. Rebecca Gartner made five saves to earn the shutout – her fifth of the season. VU finished with a narrow 10-9 edge in shots, while corner kicks were even at four apiece. Mollie Eriksson had five saves for the Blue Demons, who were led offensively by Kristin Boos, who finished with three strikes. DePaul finishes 2019 with an 8-8-3 record while the Wildcats improve to 10-6-3.
Villanova advances in the BIG EAST Championship for the first time since 2009 and heads to its first BIG EAST Semifinal since 2004. The Wildcats have played in seven semifinal matches previously, advancing past West Virginia in the 2003 tournament en route to their first and only BIG EAST Championship title.
Georgetown beat Providence, 4-0, when they met in the 2019 regular season in Friartown on Oct. 6, while Villanova was one of just two BIG EAST teams to knock off regular-season champion Xavier – winning at Higgins Soccer Complex, 1-0, on Sept. 29.
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 vs. No. 4 seed Villanova, 6 p.m.^
BIG EAST Championship Semifinals – No. 2 seed Georgetown vs. No. 6 seed Providence, 8:30 p.m.^
Sunday, Nov. 10 – Omaha, Neb.
BIG EAST Championship Final, 4 p.m.#
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest
^BEDN
#FS1