Creighton University
DePaul
Women’s Soccer Set To Battle at DePaul on Thursday and Honor Five Seniors Before Match With #20 Xavier on Sunday
10/18/2023 10:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match #13: Creighton Bluejays (4-7-4, 2-5-0 BE) at DePaul Blue Demons (5-6-3, 1-4-2 BE)
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 • 3:00 p.m. CT
Chicago, Ill. | Wish Field
Television: FloSports
Series History: DePaul leads 8-2-1
LIVE VIDEO | FLOSPORTS INFO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)
Match #14: Creighton Bluejays (4-7-4, 2-5-0 BE) vs. #20 Xavier Musketeers (11-2-3, 4-0-3 BE)
Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023 • 1:00 p.m. CT
Omaha, Neb. | Morrison Stadium
Television: FloSports / YurView
Series History: Xavier leads 9-5-0
LIVE VIDEO | FLOSPORTS INFO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)
Up Next
Creighton (4-7-4, 2-5-0 BIG EAST) looks to take another step closer to reaching the BIG EAST Tournament this week with a pair of crucial matches against DePaul (5-6-3, 1-4-2 BE) and #20 Xavier (11-2-3, 4-0-3 BE).
The action begins on Thursday, Oct. 19 when the Bluejays travel to Chicago to battle DePaul at 3 p.m. in the Windy City.
The Bluejays will then return home to battle #20 Xavier at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22 with senior day festivities being performed prior to the match.
Follow the Match
Thursday and Sunday's matches will feature both live video and live stats.
Live stats will be featured through http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com, while live video will be available on FloSports with Scott Sudikoff on the call on Thursday and Jon Schriner and Josh Peterson on the call on Sunday.
Additionally, Sunday's match will also be televised locally on Cox/YurView (Channel 13 on Cox).
A subscription is required to view the event on FloSports. More information can be found at GoCreighton.com/flosports.
Links to video and live stats will be provided on the Creighton Women's Soccer schedule page. Updates will be provided during the match on Twitter (@CreightonWSoc).
Scouting Creighton (4-7-4, 2-5-0 BE)
Coming off back-to-back wins and a bye, Creighton enters Thursday's match at DePaul with a 4-7-4 overall record and a 2-5-0 mark in the BIG EAST.
The Bluejays closed out a rigorous non-conference schedule with a 2-2-4 record, which featured matches against four power-five conference opponents.
Creighton own wins over North Dakota State (3-2), South Dakota State (1-0), Villanova (2-1) and Seton Hall (2-0) this season, while also earning draws against Nebraska (2-2), Kansas State (0-0), Drake (2-2) and Minnesota (0-0).
Offensively, Creighton is led by senior Abigail Santana with three goals and four assists, while senior Hannah Luke follows closely behind with a pair of goals and two assists.
Freshman Anja Jestrovic, the two-time reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, has provided a spark offensively over the past three matches, netting a pair of goals and dishing out a pair of assists.
Junior Azumi Manriki has added a pair of goals and an assist, while senior 's Hitomi Yamaue and Lara Kazandjian have each provided a goal and an assist. Senior Maddie Radke and sophomore Andrine Westlie, as well as freshmen Savanna Solomon, Shani Sirota and Tilly Thomas have each contributed one goal for the Bluejays this season.
Fifth-year senior Keelan Terrell has been the driving force for the Bluejays in goal thus far. Terrell ranks third in the BIG EAST with 50 saves and has posted four shutouts while playing 1,170 minutes in between the posts. Freshman Maddie Merrick has played two matches this season, collecting nine total saves.
Fresh off a second trip to the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals in 2022, the Bluejays have renewed energy as 15 players return from last season's squad that posted an 8-4-8 record. Creighton returned eight players who started 10 or more matches in 2022, led by preseason all-conference selection Lara Kazandjian.
Creighton also welcomes in 14 newcomers, including transfer Westlie and freshman Maia Sirota are each expected to contribute during their first seasons in Omaha.
Head coach Ross Paule is in his ninth year at the helm of the Bluejays.
Scouting DePaul (5-6-3, 1-4-2 BE)
DePaul is 5-6-3 this season and 1-4-2 in BIG EAST play after earning a 2-1 win over Butler, a 1-1 draw with Providence and a 0-0 draw with Seton Hall.
Graduate Ellie Mink has led the Blue Demons offense this season with four goals, while senior Beth Smyth has contributed three goals of her own.
Freshman Lea Eisenring has added a goal and two assists while classmate Mya Gardner and sophomore Freya Jupp have each provided a goal and an assist.
Defensively, graduate student Elena Milam has played all 1,260 minutes in between the post this season for DePaul. She has recorded a BIG EAST-best 82 saves but has allowed 19 goals for a 1.36 goals against average.
DePaul was picked to finish 10th in this year's BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll. Head coach Michele O'Brien enters her third season at the helm of the Blue Demons.
Series History Against The Blue Demon's
Creighton and DePaul will meet for the 12th time in program history on Thursday night, with the Blue Demons holding an 8-2-1 edge in the all-time series.
DePaul won the first six meetings between the two schools, before Creighton claimed a 2-0 shutout win in 2019. The Bluejays and Blue Demons then alternated wins until battling to a 1-1 draw last season in Omaha.
Creighton is 0-5 all-time against DePaul in matches played in Chicago, while head coach Ross Paule is 2-6-1 against the Blue Demons.
Scouting #20 Xavier (11-2-3, 4-0-3 BE)
Xavier started the season winning six of their first seven matches and hasn't slowed down as the Musketeers enter Thursday's contest at Providence with a 11-2-3 overall record that included a 4-0-3 mark in BIG EAST play and a No. 20 national ranking.
Xavier's lone losses on the year have come to Illinois (1-0) and Lamar (1-0), but the Musketeers have captured wins over Saint Louis (1-0) and Pittsburgh (2-1) as well as a draw against BIG EAST favorite Georgetown (0-0).
The Musketeer's rank second in the BIG EAST in scoring, having netted 28 goals on 26 assists. Junior Samantha Wiehe ranked tied for third in the league with 16 points, behind a team-high six goals and four assists.
Classmate Shelby Sallee follows closely behind and ranks ninth in the BIG EAST with 11 points on five goals and an assist, while freshman Kennedy Clark has added two goals and a team-high five assists this season.
Sophomore Maria Galley has seen the majority of the minutes in goal for Xavier this season. Over the course of 16 matches, she has logged 1,418 minutes and collected 47 saves while allowing just eight goals for a 0.51 goals against average.
Xavier was picked to finish second in this year's BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll. Head coach Nate Lie is in his seventh season at the helm of the Musketeers.
Series History Against The Musketeers
Creighton and Xavier will meet for the 15th time in program history on Sunday afternoon, with the Musketeers holding a 9-5-0 edge in the all-time series.
Xavier took the first meeting between the two schools back in 1992 and has won four out of the last five meetings. The Bluejays last win in the series as a 1-0 shutout victory on March 24, 2021.
Creighton is 2-4-0 all-time against Xavier in matches played in Omaha, with their last win in Morrison Stadium coming back on Sept. 23, 2018.
Last season, Xavier claimed a 2-1 victory over the Bluejays to clinch a first-round bye in the 2022 BIG EAST Tournament.
What's at Stake?
Heading into the final stretch, Creighton needs a late push to nab a spot in the six team BIG EAST Tournament. Entering Thursday's matchup with DePaul, Creighton sits in ninth place with six points, but is just one win away (three points) from moving into a tie for sixth.
With wins on Thursday and Sunday this week and losses by Seton Hall, Marquette and Butler, Creighton could climb into fifth or sixth in the BIG EAST standings.
Bluejays All-Time vs. Top 25 Competition
Facing off against #20 Xavier on Sunday, Creighton will be seeking its first win over a ranked opponent since defeating #12 Wisconsin, 1-0, back on Sept. 3, 1994.
Including Creighton's 1-0 setback to #17 Georgetown on Sept. 24, the Bluejays have faced a ranked opposition 25 times and hold a 1-20-4 overall record. Since current head coach Ross Paule took over in 2015, Creighton is 0-8-3 against ranked opponents, with each of the three draws coming against Georgetown.
Date Opponent Result
10/27/90 at #20 Central Florida T, 1-1 (ot)
9/28/91 #1 North Carolina L, 1-9
10/2/92 #1 North Carolina L, 0-4
9/3/94 #12 Wisconsin W, 1-0
10/30/94 #7 at Cincinnati L, 4-5 (ot)
11/15/02 % at #6 Santa Clara L, 1-5
11/12/04 % at #8 Kansas L, 1-3
8/26/05 #25 Wisconsin L, 0-2
11/16/07 % vs. #9 USC L, 0-3
9/2/11 #5 Oklahoma State L, 0-1
8/26/12 at #4 Oklahoma State L, 1-4
10/20/13 * at #15 Georgetown L, 0-4
10/11/14 * at #13 DePaul L, 0-2
10/19/14 * #25 Georgetown L, 0-1
10/28/16 * #10 Georgetown L, 0-3
10/5/17 * at #12 Georgetown T, 1-1 (2ot)
10/19/17 * #22 Butler L, 0-3
9/14/18 #20 Oklahoma State L, 0-2
10/4/18 * #5 Georgetown L, 1-7
10/13/19 * at #10 Georgetown T, 2-2 (2ot)
4/16/21 & vs. #10 Georgetown L, 1-2 (ot)
9/23/21 * #25 Georgetown T, 1-1 (2ot)
9/25/22 * at #23 Georgetown L, 0-4
11/3/22 & vs. 18 Georgetown L, 0-1
9/24/23 * #17 Georgetown L, 0-1
* BIG EAST?regular-season match
& BIG EAST Tournament match
% NCAA?Tournament
Home matches in bold.
What A Senior Class
Creighton will honor five seniors prior to its final home match of the season on Sunday vs. Xavier as Lara Kazandjian, Hannah Luke, Maddie Radke, Abigail Santana and Peighton Staffen will be recognized. Gabby Grimaldi, Keelan Terrell and Hitomi Yamaue will also be playing their last home game as a Bluejay.
This senior class has recorded 31 wins over the last five year, while guiding Creighton to its first BIG EAST Tournament appearance in 2020, as well as a return trip to the BIG EAST Tournament last season.
Anja Jestrovic Collects Second Straight BIG EAST Freshman of the Week Honor
For a second consecutive week freshman Anja Jestrovic was named BIG EAST freshman of the Week, the league announced on Monday, Oct. 16.
Jestrovic notched three points on a goal and an assist, factoring in both of Creighton's goals, as the Bluejays' talented rookie led the Bluejays to a 2-0 shutout over Seton Hall last week. The Belgrade, Serbia native opened the match by recording her second assist of the season after slotting a pass through the Seton Hall backline to Lara Kazandjian who fired a shot into the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
The freshman then gave the Bluejays a little bit of breathing room, scoring her second goal of the season in the 57th minute. Jestrovic received a pass in the box from senior Gabby Grimaldi before making a Pirate defender miss and blasting a shot in the back of the net to give Creighton a 2-0 lead.
Recording a point in three consecutive matches, Jestrovic is the first Bluejay to record at least one point in three straight matches since Ansley Atkinson and Abigail Santana recorded at least a point in three straight matches in 2021.
Steffen Nabs Spot On BIG EAST Honor Roll
Following a 2-0 shutout victory over Seton Hall last week, senior defender Peighton Steffen earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, Oct. 16.
The Wisconsin native helped limit Seton Hall to a season low one shot on goal, while holding the three-time BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and the BIG EAST point leader, Natalie Tavana, to just two total shots while dishing out her first assist of the season.
Bluejays Keep Finding the Back of the Net
After scoring just two goals in the first four conference matches of the season, Creighton has found the back of the net twice in each of the last three matches to push its conference total to eight total goals.
Freshman Anja Jestrovic has sparked the offensive outburst with a pair of goals, while BIG EAST Preseason All-Conference selection Lara Kazandjian added her first goal of the season.
In conference play this season, Creighton ranks second in total shot with 112, but ranks sixth in total goals with eight.
Fifth Official RPI Rankings Released
The fifth official RPI Rankings were released by the NCAA on Monday. The Bluejays were listed at No. 46 in the initial release but have since fallen to 119 after opening BIG EAST play with a 2-5-0 record.
BIG EAST in the RPI (Oct. 16 edition)
15. Georgetown
20. Xavier
44. Providence
67. Connecticut
73. St. John's
97. Butler
112. Marquette
119. Creighton
144. DePaul
146. Seton Hall
168. Villanova
Battled Tested Bluejays
Creighton owns a 4-7-4 record this season, but the 15 teams the Bluejays have played so far this fall have a combined record of 100-62-54 (.588).
With the fifth RPI rankings released on Monday, the Bluejays have faced three teams currently listed in the top 30 (0-2-1 vs those opponents) and nine teams in the top 100 (0-7-2).
Team (RPI Rank) W-L-T (10/9) CU's Result
Nebraska (21) 11-2-3 T, 2-2
Missouri (82) 5-6-3 L, 1-3
Saint Louis (19) 12-2-2 L, 1-4
Kansas State (206) 3-11-3 T, 0-0
Drake (110) 10-3-3 T, 2-2
Minnesota (55) 6-5-4 T, 0-0
North Dakota State (230) 4-6-6 W, 3-2
South Dakota State (69) 11-3-0 W, 1-0
Connecticut (67) 6-3-5 L, 0-2
Georgetown (15) 8-1-7 L, 0-1
Marquette (112) 5-7-4 L, 1-3
Providence (44) 8-2-4 L, 1-3
St. John's (73) 8-5-3 L, 2-3
Villanova (168) 4-4-7 W, 2-1
Seton Hall (146) 6-6-4 W, 2-0
Return to the BIG EAST Tournament Will Be Paved on the Road
To reach the Bluejays' goal of a return trip to the BIG EAST Tournament (top six teams), Creighton will need to find points on the road. During the Bluejays' 11 seasons in the BIG EAST, Creighton has a combined road record of 11-30-8 in conference play. Last season the Bluejays success on the road helped propel themselves into the BIG EAST Tournament.
Creighton's BIG EAST Record on the road
2013: 2-2-1
2014: 1-2-1
2015: 1-4-0
2016: 0-4-0
2017: 0-3-2
2018: 1-3-0
2019: 1-1-3
2020: 2-2-0
2021: 0-5-0
2022: 2-2-1
2023: 1-2-0
Bluejays Don Pink Uniforms Against Seton Hall
Creighton wore its alternate pink uniforms on Oct. 12 as the Bluejays hosted its ninth annual Pink Out match. Fans were encouraged to wear pink to promote breast cancer awareness as Creighton cruised to a 2-0 victory over the Pirates.
Since its creation in 2012, the Bluejays are 3-6-0 in Pink Games. Creighton is also 3-4-0 is seven Pink Out matches under head coach Ross Paule.
Date Opponent Result
10/11/12 Drake L, 2-3
10/12/13 DePaul L, 1-2 (ot)
10/16/14 Villanova L, 0-2
10/4/15 Villanova W, 3-1
10/5/16 Seton Hall W, 4-0
10/19/17 Butler L, 0-3
10/4/18 Georgetown L, 1-7
10/10/19 Butler L, 0-1 (ot)
10/12/23 Seton Hall W, 2-0
Success against Seton Hall
Following a 2-0 shutout victory on Oct. 12, Creighton now owns a 10-match unbeaten streak vs. Seton Hall. The 10-match unbeaten streak is tied for the third longest unbeaten streak against any team in program history. Creighton's longest unbeaten streak was 14 consecutive matches against Indiana State from 2000 to 2014.
Most Consecutive Matches W/out a Loss Over One Team
Matches Opponent Dates
14 Indiana State 2000-11
12 Western Illinois 1997-Present
10 Seton Hall 2013-Present
10 South Dakota 2007-16
10 South Dakota State 2004-14
Firing On All Cylinders
After being outshot 116-69 in non-conference play, Creighton has flipped the script and has outshot conference opponents 112-71 in seven conference matches, including a 62-29 advantage in shots in the second half.
Creighton was outshot in six of their eight non-conference matches but have since outshot six of their seven opponents in conference play this season.
In the Bluejays 2-1 win over Villanova last Sunday, Creighton recorded a season-high 21 shots, outshooting the Wildcats, 21-11.
Despite a 3-1 setback to Marquette on Sept. 28, Creighton's backline held the Golden Eagles to zero shots in the second half. It was the first time the Bluejays have held a team shotless in a half since the Bluejays limited North Dakota to zero shots in the second half last season.
Home Sweet Home
Creighton is 2-4-2 in home matches this season, including a 1-0 shutout victory over South Dakota State (Sept. 15) and a 2-0 shutout over Seton Hall (Oct. 12), as well as a 2-2 draw against Nebraska in the season-opener on Aug. 17, and a scoreless draw against Minnesota on Sept. 8. Creighton is now 113-60-27 all-time at Morrison Stadium (opened in 2003), which includes a 12-5-4 mark in home-openers.
Last season, Creighton finished the year 6-1-3 in Morrison Stadium. Creighton's six home wins last fall were tied for the second most home wins since joining the BIG EAST in 2013 and the tied for the seventh most home wins since moving into Morrison Stadium in 2003.
Creighton holds a 51-35-12 mark at Morrison Stadium since the start of 2013, when the program joined the BIG EAST and a 17-28-5 mark during home league matches.
Most Win in Morrison Stadium in a Season
Year Wins Overall Home Record
1. 2010 9 9-1-2
2. 2009 8 8-2-2
2008 8 8-2-1
2005 8 8-1-1
5. 2015 7 7-4-0
2007 7 7-2-1
7. 2022 6 6-1-3
2019 6 6-4-0
2016 6 6-2-2
2013 6 6-4-0
2006 6 6-5-0
Steffen's Logging Serious Minutes
Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2020 senior Peighton Steffen has been a staple in the Bluejays starting lineup. The heart of Creighton's backline, Steffen has played 5,838 minutes in her career, 99.5 percent of the 5,868 possible minutes she could have played.
Dating back to last season, Steffen has played 2,720 consecutive minutes along the Creighton backline. Her 2,720 consecutive minutes played is the longest stretch by a Bluejay player since at least 2000.
Terrell's Logging Major Minutes
A fixture in goal for Creighton over the last four seasons has graduate goalkeeper Keelan Terrell climbing the Creighton ranks for career goalkeeper minutes.
Over the course of her career with the Bluejays, the Olathe, Kans. native has seen action in 65 matches, making 64 starts and logging 5,882 total minutes in between the posts, ranking second on Creighton's all-time goalkeeper minutes played list.
This season, Terrell has played 1,170 minutes in goal for the Bluejays, posting four shutouts against Kansas State, Minnesota, South Dakota State and Seton Hall.
Goalkeeper Minutes Played
1. Jaimie Thompson 6,815 2000-03
2. Keelan Terrell 5,882 2019-present
3. Denise Zaver 5,287 1990-93
4. Kristen Casey 5,180 2005-08
5. Maggie Phelan 5,058 1997-00
6. Mary Libert 4,883 1993-96
7. Katie Jo Swanson 3,329 2009-12
8. Danielle Rice 3,303 2013-14
9. Valerie Zimmerer 3,012 2003-06
10. McKenzie Meola 2,869 2016-17
Terrell's Chasing History
Graduate Keelan Terrell has proven time and time again over her first four years as a Bluejay that she is one of the greatest goalkeepers to ever wear a Creighton uniform.
Terrell is one of just five players in Creighton history to rank in the top-10 of every career goalkeeper category. She currently sits second in goalkeeper minutes (5,882), sixth in total saves (210), tied for sixth in shutouts (17), seventh in goals against average (1.28) and seventh in goalkeeper victories (21)
Goalkeeping Victories Total Years
1. Jaimie Thompson 41 2000-03
2. Denise Zaver 35 1990-93
3. Alicia Montgomery 30 2008-11
4. Kristen Casey 29 2005-08
Mary Libert 29 1993-96
6. Maggie Phelan 26 1997-00
7. Keelan Terrell 21 2019-present
8. Danielle Rice 19 2013-14
Valerie Zimmerer 19 2003-06
10. Katie Sullivan 13 2018-20
Saves Total Years
1. Denise Zaver 355 1990-93
2. Jaimie Thompson 345 2000-03
3. Kristen Casey 259 2005-08
4. Mary Libert 256 1993-96
5. Alicia Montgomery 226 2008-11
6. Keelan Terrell 210 2019-present
7. Danielle Rice 199 2013-14
8. Maggie Phelan 193 1997-00
9. Katie Jo Swanson 173 2009-12
10. McKenzie Meola 160 2016-17
Goals Against Average Total Years
(Minimum 1,000 Minutes Played)
1. Alicia Montgomery 0.81 2008-11
2. Valerie Zimmerer 0.96 2004-06
3. Denise Zaver 1.14 1990-93
4. Jaimie Thompson 1.15 2000-03
5. Kristen Casey 1.18 2005-08
6. Katie Jo Swanson 1.24 2009-12
7. Keelan Terrell 1.28 2019-present
8. Danielle Rice 1.36 2013-14
9. Lori Kwapiszeski 1.37 1989-90
10. Mary Libert 1.38 1993-96
Shutouts (indicates shared shutouts)
1. Jaimie Thompson 24 (2) 2000-03
Denise Zaver 24 (8) 1990-93
3. Alicia Montgomery 22 (0) 2008-11
4. Kristen Casey 18 (0) 2005-08
Mary Libert 18 (6) 1993-96
6. Keelan Terrell 17 (0) 2019-present
Maggie Phelan 17 (6) 1997-00
8. Valerie Zimmerer 10 (3) 2003-06
Lori Kwapiszeski 10 (8) 1989-90
10. Katie Sullivan 9 (0) 2018-20
Meghan Coleman 9 (6) 1994-97
