OMAHA – The BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep continued on Thursday with the Semifinal round at Creighton’s Morrison Stadium in Omaha, Neb. Higher seeds prevailed as No. 1 seed Xavier defeated fourth-seeded Villanova, 2-0, while No. 2 seed Georgetown eliminated sixth-seeded Providence, 2-0. The Musketeers and Hoyas advance to Sunday’s championship match, set for 4 p.m. ET on FS1. The winner earns the league’s automatic bid into the 2019 NCAA Championship.
BIG EAST Championship Semifinals – No. 1 Xavier 2, No. 4 Villanova 0
BOX SCORE
RV Xavier’s history-making season continued on Thursday as the Musketeers (15-3-2) punched their ticket to the BIG EAST Championship final for the first time. Carrie Lewis scored in the 15
th minute off a feed from Rachel Dewey, before Hayley Jakovich provided an insurance score in the 47
th, with Samantha Dewey credited with the helper. Olivia Jenkins had five stops to earn the shutout, her fourth of the season and seventh win overall. Villanova (10-7-3-) had chances throughout the contest, outshooting the Musketeers 18-8, becoming the first XU opponent to win the battle of shots since Sept. 1 and just the third team to do it all season. VU’s Conner Huggins and Shaye Seyfarrt tied for the match high with three shots apiece.
A week after clinching its first BIG EAST regular-season title, Xavier now advances to the tournament title game for the first time. The Musketeers improve to 1-1 in the BIG EAST Semifinals, while evening the all-time series with Villanova at 4-4. VU falls to 0-6-2 in the conference semis.
BIG EAST Championship Semifinals – No. 2 Georgetown 2, No. 6 Providence 0^
BOX SCORE
The 18
th-ranked Hoyas (13-3-3) advance to their fourth consecutive BIG EAST title game and sixth overall with Thursday’s victory over Providence (8-9-3). Kelly Ann Livingstone scored her first goal of the season for the game winner, with Julia Leas and Carson Nikialek credited with the assists. Amanda Carolan provided the insurance score in the 57
th minute. Anna Leat had three saves to claim her seventh clean sheet of the season. Georgetown outshot Providence 20-10 as the Friars’ Shelby Hogan made seven saves. GU’s Casey Richards led all players with six shots on the night.
Georgetown improves to 3-3-4 in BIG EAST Semifinals, while the Friars drop to 1-4-1.The Hoyas’ sixth BIG EAST title game appearance passes West Virginia for third-most in conference history. GU is 3-2 in the BIG EAST final and is eying its fourth consecutive conference crown.
Xavier and Georgetown met during the 2019 regular season on Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C. Carson Nizialek buried a pair of first-half penalty kicks to give GU an early 2-0 lead, which Samantha Dewey halved in the 86
th minute with her goal. It was as close as the Musketeers got as the Hoyas hung on for the 2-1 win. Anna Leat and Olivia Jenkins had two saves apiece. Georgetown leads the all-time series, 7-0-1, which includes a 3-1 win in the 2018 BIG EAST Championship Semifinals – their lone postseason meeting.
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 vs. No. 2 seed Georgetown, 4 p.m.#
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest
^BEDN
#FS1