WSOC Notes - BIG EAST Championship Final

BOYDS, Md. – The 2022 BIG EAST Women's Soccer Championship presented By Jeep concludes on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET as No. 2 seed Xavier faces No. 1 seed Georgetown at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. The winner of the BIG EAST Championship receives the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Musketeers defeated No. 3 seed St. John's 3-1 in overtime, while the Hoyas held off No. 5 seed Creighton 1-0.

Xavier is making its first BIG EAST title match appearance since 2019. The Musketeers defeated Georgetown 2-0 in their first championship final appearance. Xavier is making its second BIG EAST title match appearance all-time in its fifth appearance in the BIG EAST Championship. The Musketeers are 3-3-1 all-time in the conference tournament, with all their victories and appearances in the tournament coming under head coach Nate Lie, who is in his sixth season at the helm.

Georgetown is in the BIG EAST Championship final for the seventh straight year and ninth time overall. The Hoyas have won five BIG EAST titles in the past seven season with their championship wins coming in 2021, Spring 2021, 2018, 2017 and 2016. They have the most BIG EAST titles among active programs. The Hoyas are 16-13-1 in the conference tournament, with all 16 wins coming with Dave Nolan as the head coach, who is in his 19^th season.

The two teams met in the 2019 title match where the Musketeers got a 2-0 victory. Xavier had two goals from Brooke Sroka and Gabrielle LoPresti. Current Hoya Julia Leas had one shot on goal during that match while current Musketeer Molly McLaughlin had one shot, as well.

Georgetown and Xavier tied 0-0 when they met this fall on Oct. 6 in Washington, D.C. Both teams had opportunities on goal, but the Musketeers outshot the Hoyas 15-6. Leas had two shots on goal for Georgetown, while Chloe Netzel had three total shots for Xavier. In their respective nets, both Maria Galley and Allie Augur had three saves in the draw.

Three BIG EAST major award winners will be on the pitch on Sunday. BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year McLaughlin leads the Musketeers with six goals and 16 points this season. BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Augur and unanimous BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Leas have led the Hoya defense to the nation's best shutout percentage with 0.737 and the second-best goals against average at 0.421.

For more on the BIG EAST Championship, visit Championship Central here.

BIG EAST Women's Soccer Championship
Presented by Jeep
First Round – Oct. 30 (home sites)
No. 3 seed St. John's 1, No. 6 seed UConn 1 (SJU advances 4-2 in PKs) BOX SCORE
No. 5 seed Creighton 1, No. 4 seed Butler (CU advances 6-5 in PKs) BOX SCORE
Semifinals – Nov. 3 – Boyds, Md.
No. 2 seed Xavier 3, No. 3 seed St. John's 1 (2OT) BOX SCORE
No. 1 seed Georgetown 1, No. 5 seed Creighton 0 BOX SCORE
Final – Nov. 6 – Boyds, Md.
No. 2 seed Xavier vs. No 1 seed Georgetown, 1:30 p.m. ET^
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