Creighton University
Butler
Women's Soccer Hosts Butler in Final Home Match of 2015
10/22/2015 12:24:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Women's Soccer hosts Butler
Series History: Butler leads series, 4-1-1
Creighton has faced Butler six times prior to Thursday's contest, including twice as BIG EAST foes. Since becoming conference opponents, Creighton is 0-1-1 against the Bulldogs. When the two teams met last in Omaha (Oct. 2013), Butler posted a 1-0 overtime victory. At Butler last season the two squads played to a 1-1 tie.
Stakes Raise as the 2015 Draws to a Close:
Just three matches remain for each member of the BIG EAST conference, highlighted by two for most teams this week. The Bluejays enter play on Thursday on the outside looking into the six-team field for the BIG EAST Championship.Â
At 2-4 with six points, Creighton is knotted for seventh with Xavier. Entering Thursday's matches, just one spot in the field has been claimed. With its 1-1 draw with St. John's on Sunday, DePaul clinched the first spot in the six-team BIG EAST Championship field.
The Blue Demons have 16 points through the first six league games while the current bottom four squads can total no more than 15 points apiece.
Should St. John's beat Xavier and Georgetown top Seton Hall in their respective Thursday matchups, the Red Storm and Hoyas would also punch their postseason tickets.
Additionally, Villanova needs to win all three of its final games against Marquette, St. John's and Seton Hall to remain in contention for a postseason berth.
If the season ended today, DePaul (No. 1) and Georgetown (No. 2) would receive first-round byes, while St. John's (No. 3) would face Providence (No. 6) and Butler (No. 4) would host Marquette (No. 5).
The BIG EAST Championship First Round will be played on campus sites on Nov. 3, before the Semifinals and Final move to Creighton's Morrison Stadium, Nov. 6 and 8.
Scouting Creighton (10-7-0, 2-4-0 BIG EAST)
Coming off a difficult 3-2 home loss to Providence in its lone game last week, Creighton enters the contest with Butler in a must win situation.
Junior Lauren Sullivan has been dynamic in BIG EAST play, scoring five goals in six matches. The forward put home two goals in the match with Providence last Saturday.
Defensively the Bluejays have struggled in BIG EAST play, allowing 19 goals. That total exceeds the highest amount of goals surrendered in any conference season in Bluejay history.
Entering the season without a definite starter in the net, freshman Erin Scott grabbed the torch and has no intention of giving it up. Scott has delivered six clean sheets in 17 matches.
Scouting Butler (11-5-1, 4-2-0 BIG EAST)
Butler has been the surprise of BIG EAST play thus far in 2015. After going 3-4-2 in conference play last season the Bulldogs were picked to finish sixth.
The key to the Bulldogs success has been the play of goalkeeper Madison Card. Just a sophomore, Card has already posted seven shutouts this season and is just one away from tying the Bulldog single-season record of eight set by EB Larson in 1997.
Offensively the Bulldogs are led by eight goals from freshman Halle Stelbasky and five each from senior Sophia Maccagnone as well as junior Serina Kashimoto.
Butler closes the season against Creighton, Marquette and Xavier.
Sullivan Joins Bluejays Top-10
Junior Lauren Sullivan is making some noise outside of the Creighton top-10 for career goals. Her two goals against Providence on Saturday, Oct. 17 moved her into a tie for 7th all-time. In addition, Sullivan's 10 goals in 2015 place her in a tie for sixth most in a single season.
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