Women's Soccer Repeats as MVC Champs
11/6/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Box Score
OMAHA, Neb. -- Junior Gretta Arvesen broke a scoreless tie in the 73rd minute and the Creighton defense held on the final 17 minutes as the second-seeded Bluejays (12-5-3) defeated No. 1 Drake (11-7-2) to win their second consecutive State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and earn the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Both teams started slowly in the first half, and it showed as the Bulldogs managed just six shots and the Bluejays three. Each team mustered just one shot on goal, as CU's Katie Brennan fired a scoring attempt in the first minute and Drake's Andrea Schmitz had a shot turned away in the final minute before intermission.
The second period was statistically controlled by the Bulldogs, who peppered Bluejay keeper Valerie Zimmerer with 16 shots. Zimmerer stopped all five shots directed on net to pick up the win for the second straight tournament final and avenged an earlier loss to the Bulldogs. Drake would end the match with a 22-7 shot advantage.
The game's only goal came off the foot of Gretta Arvesen at 72:09 when Marcy Gans sent a pass across the 18-yard box that Arvesen fired under the diving save effort of Drake's Erin Jarvis and into the net for the game-winner and her first score of the year. Gans earned tournament MVP honors, while Arvesen, Ivonne Valentin and Katy Peetz joined her on the all-tournament team.
The final minutes were marked with a flurry of shots by the Bulldogs before Peetz came up with the ball and dribbled out the remaining few seconds to secure the CU victory.
The win marked the third tournament title in four years, and the Jays extended their home unbeaten streak against conference foes to 17 matches.
Creighton finds out its next opponent Monday afternoon during the NCAA Tournament selection show. The show will air live on ESPNEWS at 4:00 pm, and the NCAA first round begins Nov. 11.
All-Tournament Team
Marcy Gans, Creighton MVP
Ivonne Valentin, Creighton
Gretta Arvesen, Creighton
Katy Peetz, Creighton
Beth Wagenhoffer, Indiana State
Chelsea Anderson, Missouri State
Heather Forsyth, Illinois State
Taylor Casement, Illinois State
Keisha Malone, Evansville
Rayna Post, Evansville
Nikki Thaden, Drake
Lindsey Portincaso, Drake
Lauren Hoguta, Drake
