Saturday, November 6
Omaha, Neb.
6:00 PM
Creighton University
8-7-2, 5-4-1
1
vs
2
Villanova
11-6-1, 5-4-1
1
2
F
Villanova
0
2
2
Creighton
0
1
1
Daniel Espeleta
Photo by: Catherine Grosdidier
Men's Soccer Falls To Villanova in Quarterfinals, 2-1
11/6/2021 8:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Jays will await an at-large bid on Nov. 15
OMAHA, Neb. -- Fifth-seeded Villanova scored twice in the final 15 minutes to eliminate fourth-seeded Creighton, 2-1, in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship, presented by JEEP.
Creighton had a six-match unbeaten streak snapped as it fell to 8-7-2 on the season, while Villanova improved to 11-6-1 on the fall. CU's unbeaten stretch had begun with a 4-2 win at Villanova on Oct. 13th.
Daniel Espeleta gave the Bluejays a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute. It originated when the BIG EAST's top scorer, Diego Gutierrez, fed a through ball in the box to Dominic Briggs. Briggs tracked it down just before the end line, sending a cross to Espeleta. The senior from Athens, Ga., then one-timed a shot past Villanova keeper Carson Williams.
The Wildcats leveled the score in the 76th minute when Akinjide Awujo headed home his second score of the season after a long throw in from teammate Jack Bonas. Eight minutes later with 6:05 remaining the Wildcats took the lead when Lyam Mackinnon beat a pair of defenders and fed a sliding Luke Pompliano just inside the six-yard box for the eventual game-winner. It was Pompliano's second goal of the season, and first game-winner.
The best scoring chance of the first half for either side came in the 44th minute when Creighton's Duncan McGuire redirected a shot in the box that was saved by Carson Williams.
Creighton's 25 shots were a season-high, and its most since also unleashing 25 shots vs. Marquette on Nov. 7, 2018. CU's 15 corner kicks tied a Morrison Stadium record. The Bluejays played without Mark O'Neill and Callum Watson, both of whom were sitting out after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season on Wednesday in a win vs. No. 16 Providence.
Villanova closed the game with seven shots and three corner kicks, as Williams made five saves.
The Division I NCAA men's soccer selection show will take place on Monday, Nov. 15, at 12 p.m. Central on NCAA.com.
NOTES: The Wildcats improved to 4-12-3 all-time in the BIG EAST Championship with their first win since 2012 in the event. CU is now 3-8-1 at the BIG EAST Championship, and 1-4-0 in the quarterfinals ... Creighton had been 8-0-0 this season and 19-1-1 over the past three seasons when scoring first ... Diego Gutierrez has had a point in each of his last seven games, the longest streak by a Bluejay since Hermann Trophy finalist Fabian Herbers had a 10-game streak in 2015 ... Creighton had scored multiple goals in each of its last six games, its longest streak since 2000 ... Creighton's RPI moved to 24th, unofficially, after the setback, and have played the nation's No. 8 schedule.
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Creighton had a six-match unbeaten streak snapped as it fell to 8-7-2 on the season, while Villanova improved to 11-6-1 on the fall. CU's unbeaten stretch had begun with a 4-2 win at Villanova on Oct. 13th.
Daniel Espeleta gave the Bluejays a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute. It originated when the BIG EAST's top scorer, Diego Gutierrez, fed a through ball in the box to Dominic Briggs. Briggs tracked it down just before the end line, sending a cross to Espeleta. The senior from Athens, Ga., then one-timed a shot past Villanova keeper Carson Williams.
The Wildcats leveled the score in the 76th minute when Akinjide Awujo headed home his second score of the season after a long throw in from teammate Jack Bonas. Eight minutes later with 6:05 remaining the Wildcats took the lead when Lyam Mackinnon beat a pair of defenders and fed a sliding Luke Pompliano just inside the six-yard box for the eventual game-winner. It was Pompliano's second goal of the season, and first game-winner.
The best scoring chance of the first half for either side came in the 44th minute when Creighton's Duncan McGuire redirected a shot in the box that was saved by Carson Williams.
Creighton's 25 shots were a season-high, and its most since also unleashing 25 shots vs. Marquette on Nov. 7, 2018. CU's 15 corner kicks tied a Morrison Stadium record. The Bluejays played without Mark O'Neill and Callum Watson, both of whom were sitting out after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season on Wednesday in a win vs. No. 16 Providence.
Villanova closed the game with seven shots and three corner kicks, as Williams made five saves.
The Division I NCAA men's soccer selection show will take place on Monday, Nov. 15, at 12 p.m. Central on NCAA.com.
NOTES: The Wildcats improved to 4-12-3 all-time in the BIG EAST Championship with their first win since 2012 in the event. CU is now 3-8-1 at the BIG EAST Championship, and 1-4-0 in the quarterfinals ... Creighton had been 8-0-0 this season and 19-1-1 over the past three seasons when scoring first ... Diego Gutierrez has had a point in each of his last seven games, the longest streak by a Bluejay since Hermann Trophy finalist Fabian Herbers had a 10-game streak in 2015 ... Creighton had scored multiple goals in each of its last six games, its longest streak since 2000 ... Creighton's RPI moved to 24th, unofficially, after the setback, and have played the nation's No. 8 schedule.
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Team Stats
VU
CU
Goals
2
1
Shots
7
25
Shots on Goal
3
6
Saves
5
1
Corners
3
15
Fouls
13
11
Scoring Plays
Daniel Espeleta (2)
Assisted By: Dominic Briggs , Diego Gutierrez
GOAL by CU Espeleta, Daniel Assist by Briggs, Dominic and Gutierrez, Diego.
63:13
Akinjide Awujo (2)
Assisted By: Jack Bonas
GOAL by VU Awujo, Akinjide Assist by Bonas, Jack.
75:24
Luke Pompliano (2)
Assisted By: Lyam Mackinnon
GOAL by VU Pompliano, Luke Assist by Mackinnon, Lyam.
83:53
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
9
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
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