Creighton University
Missouri State
Women's Soccer Opens MVC Slate with Scoreless Draw
10/5/2007 5:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Creighton women's soccer team opened Missouri Valley Conference play Friday with a 0-0 double overtime tie against Missouri State at Morrison Stadium. Creighton narrowly out-shot the Bears, 17-14, in the match as both goalkeepers recorded four saves in the evenly played contest. Creighton moves to 5-5-1 overall and 0-0-1 in the MVC, while the Bears are now 4-7-1 and 0-0-1.
Creighton's best scoring chance in the first half came in the 30th minute off of a corner kick. Heather Duncan sent the ball into the box, where Lindsay Vaught found herself with a clear look at the goal. Vaught however was unable to get total control of the ball and sent a shot wide right. At the half, the teams were even with four shots each.
Early in the second half, Missouri State had the go-ahead goal nullified by an offsides penalty in the 50th minute. Both teams had minimal scoring chances the rest of the way in the second half, and entered overtime even with 11 shots apiece.
In the first overtime, the Bluejays' best scoring opportunity of the match was denied by MSU goalkeeper Jackie Jasper. With under 10 seconds remaining in the first overtime, Creighton's Vaught sent a well-placed corner kick into the box where senior Sam Russell directed a solid header on goal but Jasper was in position to make the save.
Neither team had solid scoring opportunities in the second overtime and the match ended in a scoreless draw. Creighton out-shot the Bears, 6-3, in the two overtime periods and had the only two shots on goal.
Casey and Jasper both recorded four saves in goal for their teams. Casey picked up her MVC-leading fourth shutout of the season and tied the Morrison Stadium career record with the eighth home shutout in her three years at Creighton. The shutout was the 10th overall in Casey's career, moving her into a tie for fifth on the school's all-time career shutouts list.
In the lone substantial advantage on the stat sheet, Creighton out-cornered the Bears, 12-2, and had its best scoring opportunities off the play. Marcy Gans led the Jays with four shots in the match, while Duncan, Russell, Vaught, Emily Orbell, and Toch Ihemelu each added two shots. Samantha Aguilar led the Bears' offense with five shots, including two of the four MSU shots on goal.
In a scary moment, the match was halted for nearly 15 minutes in the 60th minute when Creighton freshman Brittni Deeb left with an injury after taking an awkward fall.
The Jays will next be in action on Thursday, Oct. 11, with a conference match at defending MVC regular season and tournament champion, Drake.
