Saturday, October 15
Providence, R.I.
12:00 PM
Creighton University
at
Providence
Photo by: Corey Solotorovsky
Women's Soccer Heads To Rhode Island for Pivotal Battle with Providence
10/13/2016 7:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Omaha, Neb. -- Sitting in fifth place with nine points this season, the Creighton women's soccer squad's battle with Providence on Saturday could have big implications on the BIG EAST Tournament. With four matches remaining, the Friars are just one point above the Bluejays with 10 points, while second place Marquette is within reach at 12 points.
Series History: Creighton leads series, 2-1-0
The Bluejays and Friars have met three times, with Creighton taking the first two and Providence claiming the match last season. The lone meeting in Rhode Island came in 2013 as Creighton earned a 3-2 win on Oct. 3rd. Last year the Friars not only downed the Bluejays (3-2 on Oct. 17th), Providence also won both matches in the BIG EAST Tournament (played at Morrison Stadium) to go 3-0 in Omaha.
Scouting Providence (9-4-2, 3-1-1 BIG EAST)
Despite getting off to an 0-2-1 start, the Friars have been one of the most successful team in the BIG EAST. Since those opening three matches Providence has gone 9-2-1, including 3-1-1 in BIG EAST play.
Over its last 12 matches the Friars have allowed just seven goals, just three in four BIG EAST matches. Goalkeeper Kristyn Shea has played every second in the net (1,416:25), recording 75 saves and posting a 0.89 goals against average.
Offensively Rachel Ugolik and Kathryn Hiller have paced the Friars with six goals each. Ugolik leads Providence with 15 points as she has three assists. In their last contest the Friars dropped a 2-0 decision to Marquette at home on Oct. 9. Providence is 5-3-0 on its home field.
Bluejays Reach Three BIG EAST Wins for First Time
The 2-0 victory over St. John's on Oct. 9th gave Creighton its third win in BIG EAST play for the first time since the Bluejays joined the conference prior to the 2013 season. Creighton finished its first season in the conference in 2013 at 2-6-1. Creighton followed that with a 2-5-2 record in 2014 and a 2-7-0 mark last season.
With four matches remaining, the Bluejays control their own destiny as Creighton sits in fifth place in the conference.
Back-to-Back Shutouts Offer Individual Accolades for Meola and Sullivan
Coming off shutout victories over Seton Hall (4-0 on Oct. 6) and St. John's (2-0 on Oct. 9) senior Lauren Sullivan and freshman McKenzie Meola were named the BIG EAST Offensive and Goalkeeper of the Week on Monday, Oct. 10.
Sullivan was the BIG EAST's points leader last week with six over two games. The senior scored a goal in each win for the Bluejays, beginning Thursday against Seton Hall in which she totaled a goal and two assists. Sullivan followed on Sunday in a notable win over St. John's, scoring Creighton's insurance goal in the 70th minute of the 2-0 victory. Sullivan leads all BIG EAST players with 27 points this season, while her 11 goals are also a league high. She has scored in eight consecutive matches to break a Creighton program record.
Meola earned back-to-back shutout wins over Seton Hall and St. John's last week, totaling eight saves on the week. The clean sheets were her first two of the season, highlighted by a seven-save performance against the Red Storm on Sunday in Omaha.
Sullivan Becomes First Bluejays to Notch a Goal in Eight Straight Matches
Over the last eight matches for senior Lauren Sullivan has been lights out. She has at least one goal in each contest, 10 over the stretch, and even scored at goal at Rhode Island before a power outage cancelled the match in the 25th minute.
The goal streak she is currently on is the longest in Creighton history. The previous record was held by Gretta Matthews, who scored in seven consecutive matches from Sept. 3, 1989 to Sept. 24, 1989.
Sullivan's scoring run has elevated her to the top of the BIG EAST in goals scored with 11 and points per game at 2.08. Her 11 goals puts her in a tie for 6th in the NCAA, just one away from third overall. The NCAA leader, Ashley Hatch (BYU), has 15 goals.
Creighton's Defensive Standing Up
The Bluejays' defense has gotten steadily better as the season has progressed. Creighton has held opponents off the scoreboard for the last 210:18 minutes, stretching back to the Bluejays' match at Villanova on Oct. 2.
Meola Continues to Shine
One of the reasons that Creighton's defense continues to improve is the play of freshman McKenzie Meola. The Omaha native is 6-1-1 on the season, limiting opponents to a 1.23 GAA. She has been in net for each of the Bluejays' two shutouts.
No Time To Waste
Junior Kaira Houser made the most of her 28 minutes on the pitch against St. John's on Oct. 9. Houser entered the match in the 28th minute and converted her second goal of the season with 34:15 showing on the clock.
Houser's impact was felt even faster in the second period as she entered at 69:01, assisting on the Bluejays' goal 22 seconds later.
More Streaking for Sullivan
While Sullivan's run of goals is at eight matches, her streak of points in a match is one better at nine.
The last time a Creighton player had a streak of more than eight consecutive matches with at least one point was in 2010, when Andrea Zuniga scored in nine straight from Oct. 2 to Nov. 12.
Sullivan's Star on the National Scene
In addition to Sullivan sitting in sixth in the NCAA in goals scored, she sits in the top-10 in three other categories.
Lauren Sullivan # NCAA Ranking
Goals 11 T-6th
Goals Per Game 0.85 T-9th
Points 27 T-8th
Points Per Game 2.08 T-9th
Turning Sundays Into Fun Days
After dropping the first two matches on Sunday this season, attention began to mount about the Bluejays 4-7 mark on Sunday under head coach Ross Paule.
Since the 3-1 loss to Iowa State on Sunday,
Aug. 28, the Bluejays have taken four of their last five Sunday matches to move to 9-8-0 on Sunday.
Creighton (8-3-2, 3-2-0 BE) at Providence (9-4-2, 3-1-1 BE)
Saturday, Oct. 15 @ 12:00 pm
Stats: creighton.statbroadcast.com
Video: BEDN - foxsportsgo.com
Saturday, Oct. 15 @ 12:00 pm
Stats: creighton.statbroadcast.com
Video: BEDN - foxsportsgo.com
Series History: Creighton leads series, 2-1-0
The Bluejays and Friars have met three times, with Creighton taking the first two and Providence claiming the match last season. The lone meeting in Rhode Island came in 2013 as Creighton earned a 3-2 win on Oct. 3rd. Last year the Friars not only downed the Bluejays (3-2 on Oct. 17th), Providence also won both matches in the BIG EAST Tournament (played at Morrison Stadium) to go 3-0 in Omaha.
Scouting Providence (9-4-2, 3-1-1 BIG EAST)
Despite getting off to an 0-2-1 start, the Friars have been one of the most successful team in the BIG EAST. Since those opening three matches Providence has gone 9-2-1, including 3-1-1 in BIG EAST play.
Over its last 12 matches the Friars have allowed just seven goals, just three in four BIG EAST matches. Goalkeeper Kristyn Shea has played every second in the net (1,416:25), recording 75 saves and posting a 0.89 goals against average.
Offensively Rachel Ugolik and Kathryn Hiller have paced the Friars with six goals each. Ugolik leads Providence with 15 points as she has three assists. In their last contest the Friars dropped a 2-0 decision to Marquette at home on Oct. 9. Providence is 5-3-0 on its home field.
Bluejays Reach Three BIG EAST Wins for First Time
The 2-0 victory over St. John's on Oct. 9th gave Creighton its third win in BIG EAST play for the first time since the Bluejays joined the conference prior to the 2013 season. Creighton finished its first season in the conference in 2013 at 2-6-1. Creighton followed that with a 2-5-2 record in 2014 and a 2-7-0 mark last season.
With four matches remaining, the Bluejays control their own destiny as Creighton sits in fifth place in the conference.
Back-to-Back Shutouts Offer Individual Accolades for Meola and Sullivan
Coming off shutout victories over Seton Hall (4-0 on Oct. 6) and St. John's (2-0 on Oct. 9) senior Lauren Sullivan and freshman McKenzie Meola were named the BIG EAST Offensive and Goalkeeper of the Week on Monday, Oct. 10.
Sullivan was the BIG EAST's points leader last week with six over two games. The senior scored a goal in each win for the Bluejays, beginning Thursday against Seton Hall in which she totaled a goal and two assists. Sullivan followed on Sunday in a notable win over St. John's, scoring Creighton's insurance goal in the 70th minute of the 2-0 victory. Sullivan leads all BIG EAST players with 27 points this season, while her 11 goals are also a league high. She has scored in eight consecutive matches to break a Creighton program record.
Meola earned back-to-back shutout wins over Seton Hall and St. John's last week, totaling eight saves on the week. The clean sheets were her first two of the season, highlighted by a seven-save performance against the Red Storm on Sunday in Omaha.
Sullivan Becomes First Bluejays to Notch a Goal in Eight Straight Matches
Over the last eight matches for senior Lauren Sullivan has been lights out. She has at least one goal in each contest, 10 over the stretch, and even scored at goal at Rhode Island before a power outage cancelled the match in the 25th minute.
The goal streak she is currently on is the longest in Creighton history. The previous record was held by Gretta Matthews, who scored in seven consecutive matches from Sept. 3, 1989 to Sept. 24, 1989.
Sullivan's scoring run has elevated her to the top of the BIG EAST in goals scored with 11 and points per game at 2.08. Her 11 goals puts her in a tie for 6th in the NCAA, just one away from third overall. The NCAA leader, Ashley Hatch (BYU), has 15 goals.
Creighton's Defensive Standing Up
The Bluejays' defense has gotten steadily better as the season has progressed. Creighton has held opponents off the scoreboard for the last 210:18 minutes, stretching back to the Bluejays' match at Villanova on Oct. 2.
Meola Continues to Shine
One of the reasons that Creighton's defense continues to improve is the play of freshman McKenzie Meola. The Omaha native is 6-1-1 on the season, limiting opponents to a 1.23 GAA. She has been in net for each of the Bluejays' two shutouts.
No Time To Waste
Junior Kaira Houser made the most of her 28 minutes on the pitch against St. John's on Oct. 9. Houser entered the match in the 28th minute and converted her second goal of the season with 34:15 showing on the clock.
Houser's impact was felt even faster in the second period as she entered at 69:01, assisting on the Bluejays' goal 22 seconds later.
More Streaking for Sullivan
While Sullivan's run of goals is at eight matches, her streak of points in a match is one better at nine.
The last time a Creighton player had a streak of more than eight consecutive matches with at least one point was in 2010, when Andrea Zuniga scored in nine straight from Oct. 2 to Nov. 12.
Sullivan's Star on the National Scene
In addition to Sullivan sitting in sixth in the NCAA in goals scored, she sits in the top-10 in three other categories.
Lauren Sullivan # NCAA Ranking
Goals 11 T-6th
Goals Per Game 0.85 T-9th
Points 27 T-8th
Points Per Game 2.08 T-9th
Turning Sundays Into Fun Days
After dropping the first two matches on Sunday this season, attention began to mount about the Bluejays 4-7 mark on Sunday under head coach Ross Paule.
Since the 3-1 loss to Iowa State on Sunday,
Aug. 28, the Bluejays have taken four of their last five Sunday matches to move to 9-8-0 on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's SoccerCreighton Women's Soccer BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals Highlights vs. Georgetown, 11/6/25
Friday, November 07
Creighton Women's Soccer Highlights vs. St. John's, 11/1/25
Saturday, November 01
Creighton Women's Soccer Postgame vs. St John's, 11/1/25
Saturday, November 01
Creighton Women's Soccer Media Availability - 10/29/25
Wednesday, October 29
