Women's Soccer Opens Three Match Homestand Friday
9/15/2011 10:55:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match 7 • Friday, Sept. 16 • 7:00 p.m.
Creighton (3-3-0) vs. Northern Colorado (1-5-1)
Morrison Stadium • Omaha, Neb.
Series: Tied, 2-2-1
Match 8 • Sunday, Sept. 18 • 1:00 p.m.
Creighton (3-3-0) vs. Boise State (1-3-0)
Morrison Stadium • Omaha, Neb.
Series: First Meeting
Scouting the Jays
The Jays finished the 2010 season with a 15-4-2 overall record, finishing 5-1-0 in the MVC. They won both the regular season crown and tournament title for the first time since 2002, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.
The Jays return their top four scorers from a season ago, with the quartet combining for 34 of the 50 total goals last season. That group is led by 2010 MVC Player of the Year Brittney Neumann, MVC Tournament MVP Lauren Cingoranelli and all-MVC picks Andrea Zuniga and Erin Gunther.
Also back for the Jays are both Alicia Montgomery and Katie Jo Swanson, who combined for a 0.83 goals against average a season ago, posting 10 shutouts in net for the Jays.
Creighton started the 2011 with shutouts in three of the first four matches, putting together a 0.24 goals against average in that time frame. The Jays faced two setbacks last weekend, dropping a 2-0 loss at UC Davis and then a 2-1 overtime match at Sacramento State. Creighton's goals against average now sits at 0.83, a number that is still leading the MVC. Macy Mauer, Erin Gunther, Brittney Neumann, Andrea Zuniga and Kelly Connolly each have a goal for the 3-3 Jays this season, while Katie Jo Swanson holds a 0.31 goals against average and two shutouts. She sits at #13 in the nation in gaa this season, not allowing her first goal until the Sacramento State match last weekend. Alicia Montgomery is holding a 1.35 goals against average, posting one shutout. The defense has allowed just five goals this season.
Following the Jays
Both matches this weekend, on Friday against Northern Colorado and on Sunday vs. Boise State will be available through both live video and live stats at www.gocreighton.com. Throughout the season, live stats as well as live video will be available at www.gocreighton.com. You can also follow the Jays on Twitter (gocreighton) and on Facebook (search Creighton Athletics).
A Look Ahead
Creighton is playing the first of two, three-match homestands this weekend. The Jays play Northern Colorado and Boise State this weekend before opening MVC play by welcoming Northern Iowa to Morrison Stadium next Friday night. The Jays are 10-3-1 overall in conference openers, including a 7-1-1 tally when opening at home.
Meet the Opponents
Northern Colorado
The Bears began their transition to the NCAA Division I level in 2003-04 and were postseason eligible for the first time in 2007-08. The Bears are sitting at 1-5-1 on the season, with three different players scoring a goal (Kimmie Feidler, Brittany Dunn and JJ Wykstra). In the goal, Kirstin Salminen holds a 1.35 goals against average with 39 saves.
Sophomore forward Danielle Birdsall was named Big Sky Offensive MVP after putting together an outstanding sophomore campaign. She was also awarded the league's Golden Boot for having the most points (18) in the league.
Boise State
Boise State joined the Mountain West Conference this season, after finishing 5th in the WAC last season. The squad returns 23 players from the 2010 squad. The Broncos were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll, with San Diego State leading the charge in the MWC.
Boise State is led this season by Rebe Wolverton. The sophomore midfielder has two goals on the season, while Lauren Hickok and Kati Lucas have each added a solo goal. In goal for the Broncos, Liz Ruiz has started all four matches, holding a 1.57 goals against average while making 10 saves. Megan Blanchard has also seen time in goal this season.
Vs. The Opponents
The Jays and Northern Colorado Bears are tied 2-2-1 in the overall series. The Bears won the last meeting 2-1, in Greeley, Colo., in 2009. The Bears scored the first two goals of the match, netting goals in the 48th and 64th minute of play. Creighton's Jordan Bruch scored in the 67th minute, but neither team would convert through the rest of the match.
Sunday marks the first meeting between the Jays and Boise State.
Bluejay Quick Facts
• Creighton currently sits at 3-3-0 after dropping two matches last weekend in their trip to California. The Jays lost 2-0 at UC Davis on Friday night before falling 2-1 in overtime at Sacramento State on Sunday.
• The Jays still hold the best goals against average in the MVC, posting a combined 0.81 gaa. The duo of Alicia Montgomery and Katie Jo Swanson have given up just five goals in the six matches.
• Katie Jo Swanson is the lone Bluejay with national numbers, sitting 13th in the NCAA in goals against average. The junior has a 0.31 gaa, allowing just her first goal of the season in the 2-1, overtime loss at Sacramento State last week.
• Creighton's back four have also held opponents to just 27 shots on goal on the season, even with opponents averaging 13.5 total shots per match.
* The Jays return home for the first of two three-match homestands this season. Creighton welcomes Northern Colorado, Boise State and Northern Iowa this time around, holding a 13-3-3 overall record against the three schools.
* Creighton fell to Sacramento State 2-1 in overtime on Sunday, the second overtime match in the first six matches of the season. That trend has been consistent, as Creighton has played at least two overtime matches in the first six matches of the season in three of the last four seasons.
Last Week
The Jays lost both matches in their California adventure, dropping the opening match 2-0 to UC Davis in the first ever meeting before losing 2-1 in overtime at Sacramento State. Andrea Zuniga scored the lone goal for the Jays over the weekend, the equalizer, at the time, in the Sacramento State match.
Three-Peat
Creighton's back-to-back setbacks last week marked the first time since the 2008 season the team had been dropped twice in a row. From 2001 until 2008, however, the Jays lost two in a row at least once each season, including three two-game skids in 2004. The last time a Bluejay team lost three in a row was 2000, when Wright State, Wyoming and Nebraska each shutout the Jays for a 6-0 advantage in goals.
Next Up: The MVC
The Jays will welcome Northern Iowa next Friday, Sept. 23, as they open play in the MVC. Before the season, head coach Bruce Erickson knew it would be crucial to have everyone healthy come conference season time. The Jays are 10-3-1 overall in MVC openers, including a 7-1-1 mark at home. Creighton and UNI have only met one other time in the Valley opener, a 10-1 Creighton win at UNI on Sept. 1, 2000.
Playing for Free
Creighton has continued its streak of playing overtime matches, as they have now played at least two overtime matches in the first six matches of the season in three of the last four seasons (2011, 2010, 2008). The Jays hold a 14-9-22 overall record when the match goes more than 90 minutes. In single overtime, Creighton is 7-5-1, while they hold a 7-4-21 mark in double overtime matches. So far on this season, the Jays are 1-1 in overtime matches, defeating South Dakota 1-0 in double overtime and falling 2-1 at Sacramento State in a single overtime match.
Just a Slip
Creighton has gotten off to a 3-3 season, dropping from the top spot in the Valley for the first time since this time last season. After six matches last season, the Jays were 2-2-2. Creighton then went on a 10 match winning streak, snapped by Missouri State in the second to last MVC regular season match.
Slowly but Surely
After back-to-back seasons of record setting numbers on offense, including a squad that scored 50 goals last season, finishing ninth in the NCAA with 2.38 goals per match, the Jays offense has been slow to start this time around. Creighton returned its top four scorers from a season ago, but has scored just five goals combined in the first six matches. Below is a list of where the Jays sit in the Valley in offensive statistical categories:
Shots 64 6th
Points 12 7th
Goals 5 7th
Assists 2 7th
Stifling Defense
While the offense has been slow to start, Creighton's defense is right on track to continue down the path they have been the last two years. The defense has a combined 24 shutouts over the last 48 matches, including 11 in 2009 and three in the first four matches this season. Katie Jo Swanson has picked up two shutouts in her first two appearances in goal this season, while Alicia Montgomery holds a 1.35 goals against average and a .800 save percentage. Below is where the defense ranks in the Valley:
Goals Allowed 5 1st
Goals Against Average 0.81 1st
Saves 22 7th
Shutouts 3 T1st
Swanson - GAA 0.31 1st
Swanson - Save % 0.857 2nd
Swanson - Shutouts 2 T1st
Montgomery - GAA 1.35 4th
Montgomery - Saves per game 4 6th
Connolly's Card
Creighton senior Kelly Connolly picked up the game-winning goal in the 1-0 win over South Dakota last week, scoring in the 109th minute of play. It marked the sixth goal of the defender's career, with four of the five being game winners. Connolly is fourth on the team with seven shots this season, second with six shots on goal and tied for the lead with a single goal.
Fresh Faces
Head coach Bruce Erickson knew he came into the 2011 season with a veteran squad, nine seniors, but also knew there were key spots to replace. One of the new faces to step into an immediate role has been Madelyn Buckner, a true freshman from Overland Park, Kan. The defender, who sees time primarily in the middle of the back four, has played every minute of every match this season for the Jays, contributing to the three shutouts and overall success of the defense this season.
Keep it on Their Half
Just one game after losing a corner kick battle 8-0 (against OSU), the Jays controlled the tempo and offensive pressure against South Dakota (Sept. 4). Creighton took a season high 11 corner kicks, all 11 of which came before the Coyotes took a single one. The Jays have now taken 21 corner kicks on the season, giving up 36 to opponents.
Fast Starters
The Creighton offense has scored five goals this season, three of which have come in the first period of play. The fourth, against South Dakota, came in double overtime and the fifth was in the end of the second half at Sacramento State, Andrea Zuniga's match tying goal. Creighton started quick last season, as well, scoring 29 of the 50 goals in the opening frame.
That Was Rare
The Jays were shutout against Oklahoma State, 1-0. In the last three seasons, since 2008 when the current senior class came in as freshmen at Creighton, the Jays have only been shutout 14 times, four of which were 0-0, double overtime draws, while six of the matches were 1-0 losses.
Home Openers
Creighton opened up at home last Friday, falling 1-0 to then #5 Oklahoma State. In 23 seasons of Bluejay soccer, the Jays now hold a 13-6-4 overall record in the first match at home. The Jays are 6-4-3 in home-openers under head coach Bruce Erickson, and hold a 4-2-3 record since moving into Morrison Stadium in 2003.
The only other time the Jays have faced a ranked team in the home opener was in 2005, when they lost 2-0 to #25 Wisconsin.
Against the Numbers
Creighton played then #5 Oklahoma State on Friday, September 2, just the second ranked women's team to play at Morrison Stadium (#25 Wisconsin defeated the Jays 2-0 in 2005). The Cowgirls are one of just six ranked teams the Jays have played in the 23 year history of the program. Creighton is 0-5-1 against ranked opponents. Below is a list of those matches:
9-20-02 at #19 Nebraska T, 1-1 (2ot)
11-15-02 at #6 Santa Clara * L, 5-1
11-12-04 at #8 Kansas * L, 3-1
8-26-05 vs. #25 Wisconsin L, 2-0
11-16-07 vs. #9 USC * L, 3-0
9-2-11 vs. #5 Oklahoma State L, 1-0
* - denotes a match played in the NCAA Tournament.
The Jays faced Minnesota in the NCAA Tournament last season, falling 4-2. The Gophers were receiving votes at the time.
Winning Ways
This group of seniors has put together one of the best overall records thus far in their first three years, holding a 43-19-5 overall record. In those three seasons, the team has put together four winning streaks of at least four wins, including the 10-match win streak a season ago. This team has started out 2-0-0 twice now, during their freshman campaigns in 2008 and this season. In both 2008 and 2009, however, it wasn't until the fifth match that they lost, going 4-0-0 in the first four in 2008 and 3-0-1 in 2009.
The senior class has recently been ranked as the 31st winningest senior class in the nation by www.CollegeSoccer360.com. The site recently compiled a list of current senior class records, and Creighton's 43 wins place them 31st.
On the Charts
Junior forward Brittney Neumann will look to put her name in the all-time lists at Creighton. The Omaha native inched a step closer in the 2-0 win over UMKC, scoring the 17th goal of her career. That puts her just six shy of the top five all-time charts. Neumann, named both the MVC Freshman of the Year in 2009 and the MVC Player of the Year in 2010, missed the MVC Tournament and NCAA Tournament last season after a season-ending knee injury sidelined her following the Jays' victory in the regular season championship match.
Valley's Best
For the third time in her Bluejay career, senior goalkeeper Alicia Montgomery was tabbed the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week on August 23, following play in the opening week of games. The Walnut Creek, Calif., native helped the Jays secure their first win of the season, posting a 1-0 win over South Dakota State.
Montgomery started off the 2011 season right where she ended the 2010 season, picking up her 16th career shutout, just one shy of the number five spot on the all-time Creighton charts. Montgomery recorded seven saves, all in the second half, playing all 90 minutes in the 1-0 win. It helped Creighton remain unbeaten in openers in the last five seasons, as they now hold a 3-0-2 record on opening day.
Montgomery finished last season with a 0.88 goals against average, allowing just 13 goals in 16 matches, which put her second in the MVC in goals against average. She also finished with a .851 save percentage, also good enough for second in the league. Her 0.73 career goals against average is at the top of the charts in Creighton history, as second place holds a 0.96.
Smarty Pants
Just a day after earning the MVC Defensive Player of the Week, Alicia Montgomery earned the fourth MVC Scholar-Athlete award of her Bluejay career. The senior goalkeeper holds a 3.792 grade point average in mathematics and secondary education.
Creighton's Leaders
Category Leader Number
Goals Five with One Goal 1
Assists Cingoranelli/Zuniga 1
Points Zuniga 3
Saves Montgomery 16
GAA Swanson 0.31
Eye'n the Record
Senior goalkeeper Alicia Montgomery recorded her 16th career shutout with the win on Friday over South Dakota State. That puts her just shy of the all-time Creighton top-five charts. Jaimie Thompson and Denise Zaver lead the charge with 24, but sitting in fifth is Maggie Phelan with 17. Montgomery finished last season with six shutouts, which left her tied for first in the MVC at the end of the season. Her eight shutouts in 2009 are tied for second most on the Bluejay all-time charts.
Bombs Away
Creighton took a season high 35 shots against UMKC a season ago, including Andrea Zuniga's and Emily Orbell's 10 shots each, which set Morrison Stadium records. The Jays took 14 shots in the 2-0 win last week, led by Kelly Connolly's four. Creighton's all-time most shots are 45, taken at Morrison Stadium against Northern Iowa, Oct. 15, 2004.
Opening Day Numbers
Creighton is now 12-9-2 all-time in season openers and are 5-6-0 when opening on the road. Creighton is 5-6-2 on opening day under head coach Bruce Erickson. The Jays played scoreless matches the last two opening day games, with a scoreless draw in 2009 against Iowa State and last years 0-0 tie against South Dakota State, before winning 1-0 against South Dakota State Aug. 19. Both of the scoreless matches were played at home. The Jays have not lost an opener at Morrison Stadium since 2006, going 3-0-2 in that span.
Picked by the Coaches
Creighton is picked to repeat as the top team in the MVC this season, receiving 45 points and edging out Illinois State, who picked up 39. The Jays will face the Redbirds in the final match of the regular season conference schedule in Normal, Ill. Missouri State, the league runner-up from a season ago, sits at number three with 38 points and Indiana State was picked fourth earning 24 points. Drake, Evansville and UNI round out the seven teams with 21, 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Pre-season Honors
Creighton was picked to finish atop the MVC this season, returning nine starters from the 2010 season that won both the regular season and tournament titles a season ago. Three Jays were named to the MVC women's soccer pre-season team, while three more Jays landed on the honorable mention list. Brittney Neumann (junior forward), Lauren Cingoranelli (sophomore forward), and Andrea Zuniga (senior forward) were all voted to the pre-season All-MVC team, while Alicia Montgomery (senior goalkeeper), Erin Gunther (senior defender/midfielder) and Macy Mauer (senior defender) each picked up honorable mention pre-season accolades.
Leadership
Head coach Bruce Erickson returns one of the most balanced squads for the 2011 campaign that he has put together in his 13-year reign at Creighton. It is also one of the most experienced, with nine seniors on the 2011 Bluejay roster, seven of which started at least seven matches for the Jays a season ago. Erickson stresses that while the Jays may be experienced, they will still need to stay healthy throughout the line-up when the conference portion of the season hits.
Snipers
Creighton finished the 2010 season with 50 total goals, placing them second on the all-time charts in school history. They finished with 2.38 goals per game, which put them ninth in the NCAA a season ago. The Jays return the top four scorers from last season, which combined for 34 of the 50 goals. Leading the group from a season ago are Andrea Zuniga and Brittney Neumann, who each drove in nine goals. Lauren Cingoranelli and Erin Gunther each added eight goals of their own to the mix. Bruce Erickson expects each of those players to have a better season than the year before, while also throwing out Emma Auld and Beth Fyles as scoring threats to knock out the other teams' defense.
D-D-D-D Fence
Creighton's defense returns a solid nucleus from the team that posted a 0.83 goals against average and 10 shutouts a season ago. While the Jays will have to replace All-MVC backs Claire Zach and Emily Orbell, head coach Bruce Erickson is sure the leaders returning will easily adapt to a new crew. In goal will be two of the best that have walked onto a Creighton pitch, with Alicia Montgomery and Katie Jo Swanson poised to defend the net. Seniors Macy Mauer, Kelly Connolly and junior Kat Wright will remain in the starting line up, while sophomore Shonna Fraser and freshman Madelyn Buckner will look to gain a starting spot to plug up the middle of the backline.
Newcomers
Creighton has just three new faces to meet this season, while returning one red shirt. Becca Spinar (midfield/defense) redshirted a season ago and now is ready to throw her name in the hat for a starting spot, while freshman Stephanie Anasi (forward/midfield) and Madelyn Buckner (defender) will make an immediate impact in the Bluejay lineup. Highly touted recruit Kelsey O'Donnell, an all-conference player at Sacramento State in her first two collegiate seasons, will sit out a season due to transfer rules, but will be ready to learn the Bluejay offense in the spring.
She's Back
2010 MVC Player of the Year Brittney Neumann might be the most excited player on the Bluejay roster to get things started on Friday. The junior, who is a two-time all-MVC player as well as a third-team All-Region player, hasn't played for the Bluejays since scoring the match-winning goal against Illinois State in overtime last fall. The goal gave the Jays the MVC regular season crown, but Neumann was injured in practice the next day. She missed out on the MVC Tournament as well as NCAA Tournament last season, but is back and ready to strike again this season.
One for Fun
The Bluejays and UNO played in the lone exhibition of the 2011 season last Saturday, with the two teams playing to a 1-1 tie. Creighton got on the board first when Andrea Zuniga placed a shot from 35-yards out just under the cross bar and just over the outstretched UNO keepers fingers, giving the Jays the 1-0 edge. The match remained in the Jays control until late in the second half, when a diving save by Katie Jo Swanson turned into a corner kick for the Mavs, which was converted for the lone goal of the match for UNO. Swanson and Alicia Montgomery split time in goal, with head coach Bruce Erickson moving the rest of the offense and defense around to work with different combinations on the field.
Morrison Stadium is Tops:
This summer CollegeSoccerNews.com made a top-12 list of the most exciting venues to watch a college soccer match and Creighton's Morrison Stadium topped the list. Creighton ranked eighth in the NCAA in attendance in 2010 and has ranked in the NCAA top-10 in attendance in each of the last eight years.
1. Morrison Stadium - Creighton
2. Harder Stadium - UC Santa Barbara
3. Ludwig Field - Maryland
4. Cub Cadet Field - Akron
5. Morrone Stadium - Connecticut
6. Armstrong Stadium - Indiana
7. UNM Soccer Complex - New Mexico
8. Spry Stadium - Wake Forest
9. Spanos Stadium - Cal Poly
10. Merlo Field - Portland
11. Hermann Stadium - Saint Louis
12. Belson Soccer Stadium - St. John's
Players Mentioned
