Bluejays Women's Soccer Host UMKC, Travel to Omaha
9/17/2014 12:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. - Riding a 14-match non-conference winning streak, the Creighton women's soccer team hosts UMKC then makes the short trip to face the Omaha Mavericks this week as non-conference play comes to a close.
Last Week:
9/12: W, 3-0 - @ North Dakota - Grand Forks, N.D. - 4:00 p.m
9/14: W, 3-1 - @ South Dakota - Vermillion, S.D. - 1:00 p.m
This Week:
9/19: vs. UMKC - Morrison Stadium - 7:00 p.m.
9/21: at Omaha - Omaha, Neb. - 4:00 p.m.
Series with UMKC:
The Bluejays have faced off with UMKC five times previous, holding a 4-0-1 record against the Roos. Creighton took the last meeting, a 1-0 contest in Kansas City last season on Sept. 10. The lone tie in the series came in 2012 as the two squads played to a 1-1 tie on Sept. 13, 2012.
Series with Omaha:
Just as Creighton has faced UMKC five times previously, the Bluejays have also battled the Mavericks five times. Creighton holds a 4-1-0 series lead, taking the last two meetings. The Bluejays posted a 4-1 win on Omaha's field in 2012 (Sept. 7), while Creighton earned a 3-2 victory over the Mavericks on Sept. 20, 2013.
Scouting Creighton (7-0-0):
Off to the best start in school history, the Bluejays have their eyes sent on another historical achievement. Winners of seven consecutive contests, the 2014 squad is tied for the second longest winning streak in school histoy. Creighton also posted a seven-match win streak in 2013. The longest winning streak in Bluejays history is a 10-match streak during the 2010 season.
Last week Creighton dominated North Dakota, firing off 38 shots in route to an easy 3-0 win (Sept. 12). Two days later Creighton earned a 3-1 win at South Dakota (Sept. 14).
Junior Alyssa Jara posted her second multi-goal match in as many weeks scoring two goals in the win at South Dakota to move into a tie for the team lead with five goals in 2014. Jara's efforts also netted the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week Honor as she added an assist in the win at North Dakota.
Scouting UMKC (3-3-2):
UMKC opened the season with a 1-0 win at Missouri State, but has seen its season feature several ups and downs in just eight matches.
The Roos followed the season opening win with a loss to Central Arkansas, then tied Oral Roberts. Following another loss at Tulsa, UMKC rebounds to down Eastern Illinois (4-1). Last week the Roos took it to Western Illinos (3-0), then sufffered a tough loss at #20 Kansas, 1-0.
Kara Priest leads the offensive charge with four of the Roos 10 goals on the season, while Ellie Chadick boasts a team high four assists.
In goal UMKC has Nina Tzianos back for her third season. Tzianos has allowed just sevn goals in six matches this season, an 0.85 goals against average.
UMKC was picked to finish third in the eight team Western Athletic Conference.
Scouting Omaha (2-5-0):
The Mavericks opened the 2014 season with a 2-0 victory over Incarnate Word, but have dropped five of six matche since. Omaha's other victory came against New Mexico State, 6-2, on Sept. 7.
Both Maverick victories came against opponents that also faced the Bluejays as Creighton downed Incarnate Word, 2-1 and bested New Mexico State, 6-0.
Chelsi Rohloff has tallied four of Omaha's 10 goals this season and leads the team with 18 shots. Former Bluejay Kyla Booker is second in shots for the Mavericks with 11.
The Mavericks are still in the process of choosing a primary keeper as three different players have started at least one match this season. Haley Shelton leads the team with four starts as well as 17 saves.
Omaha was picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Summit League.
Not One, Not Two, Not Three ...
With seven consecutive victories it is safe to say the Bluejays are on a roll. The seven straight wins matches the second longest streak in school history, set in 2013, a seven-match streak from Aug. 30 – Sept. 20.
The longest win streak in school history is a 10-match winning streak from Sept. 9 – Oct. 16, 2010 and also from Sept. 11 to Oct. 18, 1994.
Just Seven Flawless Teams Remain:
Creighton is one of just seven teams in the NCAA to have opened the 2014 season flawlessly. Joining the Bluejays are #20 Kansas, Temple, # 6 Texas Tech, Arkansas- Little Rock, #3 Virginia and #2 Virginia Tech.
Wins Mean Everything, but Stats are Nice:
In addition to being one of seven flawless teams, Creighton ranks eighth in the NCAA in scoring offense at 3.57 goals per game (Winthrop is the national leader at 4.75), and it ninth overall in points per game at 9.57 (again led by Winthrop at 14.25).
Individually sophomore Danielle Rice is 39th in the country in save percentage at 0.86.
Non-Conference Win Streak:
Over the last two seasons the Bluejays have won 14 consecutive matches against non-conference opponents. The last loss came at Boise State on Aug. 25, 2012 (a 2-1 loss).
* Note courtesy of Matt DeMarinis of the White & Blue Review
