Creighton University
South Dakota
Women's Soccer Slips Past South Dakota 1-0
9/4/2011 5:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. - Creighton needed more than 90 minutes to pick up it's third win of the season, but used a Kelly Connolly goal, on a shot taken just outside the penalty box to earn a 1-0, double-overtime win over South Dakota on Sunday. Connolly took a ball from Andrea Zuniga and put her left boot on the ball, driving it into the upper right corner of the net for the only goal of the match. The Jays improve to 3-1-0 on the season, while the loss drops USD to 0-3-1.
The Jays controlled the tempo and possession in the opening frame, taking seven shots while allowing just one to the South Dakota offense. Brittney Neumann and Lauren Cingoranelli each had two shots, with Cingoranelli taking both on goal. The Jays also nearly doubled their season total in corner kicks in the opening frame, taking eight dead ball corner kicks (the season total was five).
Creighton had two solid scoring opportunities in the opening half, but couldn't convert either into a goal. Andrea Zuniga had a dead ball shot from just outside the near side of the 18-yard box that sailed over the crossbar just nine minutes into the match. Neumann then unleashed on a ball off a Zuniga corner kick, that was saved just inside the right post to prevent a Bluejay goal.
Katie Jo Swanson finished the opening frame without a save, as the Creighton back four didn't allow a single shot on goal or corner kick in the opening frame.
Creighton was outshot by USD 4-3 in the second half and again was unable to capitalize on chances. The best opportunity came following a yellow card to USD's Erin Bellow with 4:20 left in regulation. Macy Mauer lofted a ball from 35 yards out that got knocked around inside the penalty box before Kelly Connolly drove the ball to the left side of the net, blocked by a USD defender standing on the endline to prevent a Bluejay goal.
South Dakota turned the tides on the Jays in the final 65 minutes of play, taking a 10-6 advantage in shots during that span. The match looked to be over when USD's Jenny Teslow found herself on a break-away and one-on-one with Swanson. Teslow sailed her shot over the net, keeping the match scoreless.
Creighton took advantage, netting the only goal of the match in the 109th minute. The goal marks Connolly's first of the season and sixth of her career. It is the fourth time the senior out of Omaha has scored a game-winner for the Jays.
The Jays held the advantage in both shots, 13-11 and corner kicks, 11-3. Swanson ended the match with her second shutout of the season, picking up two saves in 108 minutes of play.
Connolly's goal was the lone goal of the match, much different than the 4-1 outcome of last year's game between the two schools. Creighton remains undefeated against South Dakota, holding a 5-0-0 advantage all-time. The win also gives the Jays their third win in the first four matches for the fourth time in the last five years (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011).
Creighton will travel to California next weekend to take on UC Davis (Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:00 pm) and Sacramento State (Sunday, Sept. 11 at 5:30 pm). Creighton is 1-0-0 all-time against Sacramento State while it will be the first meeting between the Jays and UC Davis.
