Creighton University
St. John's
Women’s Soccer Seeks First BIG EAST Win With Matches Against St. John’s and Villanova
10/4/2023 10:30:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match #13: Creighton Bluejays (2-6-4, 0-4-0 BE) vs. St. John's Red Storm (6-4-2, 1-3-0 BE)
Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 • 6:00 p.m. CT
Omaha, Neb. | Morrison Stadium
Television: FloSports / YurView
Series History: St. John's leads 5-2-3
LIVE VIDEO | FLOSPORTS INFO | LIVE STATS | LISTEN LIVE | CU NOTES (PDF)
Match #14: Creighton Bluejays (2-6-4, 0-4-0 BE) at Villanova Wildcats (4-2-5, 1-2-0 BE)
Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023 • 12:00 p.m. CT
Villanova, Pa. | Higgins Soccer Complex
Television: FloSports
Series History: Villanova leads 5-4-0
LIVE VIDEO | FLOSPORTS INFO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)
Up Next
Creighton (2-6-4, 0-4-0 BIG EAST) looks to secure its first BIG EAST conference win with a pair of pivotal matches against St. John's and Villanova.
The action begins on Thursday, Oct. 5 when the Bluejays play host to St. John's at 6 p.m. inside Morrison Stadium.
Creighton then heads back to the east coast for a match at Villanova on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 12 p.m.
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 for both contests, while live video for both contests will be available on FloSports with Jon Schriner and Josh Peterson on the call for Thursday's match against St. John's.
A subscription is required to view the event on FloSports. More information can be found at GoCreighton.com/flosports.
Additionally, Thursday's match will also be televised locally by Cox/YurView (channel 13 on Cox) and aired on the radio on 1180 the Zone (KZQT), which can be heard at http://GoCreighton.com/listen1180.
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 (2-6-4, 0-4-0 BE)
Creighton enters Thursday's match against St. John's with a 2-6-4 overall record and a 0-4-0 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.
The Bluejays own a pair of wins over North Dakota State (3-2) and South Dakota State (1-0) 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 three assists, while senior Azumi Manriki follows closely behind with a pair of goals and an assist.
Senior Hannah Luke has added a pair of assists and a goal, while classmate Hitomi Yamaue has provided a goal and an assist. Senior Maddie Radke and sophomore Andrine Westlie, as well as freshmen Savanna Solomon and Shani Sirota have each provided 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 41 saves and has posted three shutouts while playing 900 minutes in between the posts. Freshman Maddie Merrick has played two matches this season, collecting nine total saves in goal for the Bluejays.
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 St. John's (6-4-2, 1-3-0 BE)
St. John's enters Thursday's match with Creighton sporting a 6-4-2 overall record and a 1-3-0 record in BIG EAST play. The Red Storm own wins over FDU, Colgate, Penn, Central Connecticut State and Harvard and are coming off a 2-0 shutout win over Villanova.
Preseason All-BIG EAST selection, Jessica Garziano is tied for the BIG EAST lead in points with 21, behind seven goals and seven assists. Her seven assists lead the BIG EAST, while her seven goals rank second.
Junior Lauryn Tran ranks tied for fourth in the BIG EAST with 12 points, contributing four goals and four assists, while senior Nicole Gordon has added two goals and four additional assists.
As a team, St. John's is tied for the BIG EAST lead with 69 points and leads the league with 27 total assists and ranks second with 21 goals scored.
Graduate Student Maria O'Sullivan has 990 minutes in goal for the Red Storm this season, recording five shutouts. She owns a 1.09 goals against average with 19 total saves in between the posts.
St. John's was picked to finish third in this year's BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll. Head coach Ian Stone, the all-time winningest coach in St. John's women's soccer history, enters his 30th season at the helm of the Red Storm.
Series History Against The Red Storm
Creighton and St. John's have met 10 times previously, with the first meeting dating back to 1991. The Bluejays trail the all-time series 2-5-3 and have lost three out of the last five meetings with the only results being a pair of 1-1 draws in 2019 and 2022.
Creighton's last win in the series came back on Oct. 9, 2016, inside Morrison Stadium as Kaira Houser and Lauren Sullivan delivered goals for the Bluejays.
Last season the Red Storm netted a goal with nine second remaining to earn a 1-1 tie.
Scouting Villanova (4-2-5, 1-2-0 BE)
Villanova is 4-2-5 this season and enters Thursday's match against Butler with a two-match losing streak after falling to Xavier and St. John's last week.
The Wildcats opened the season with a nine-match unbeaten streak, posting wins over Marist, Temple, George Mason and Seton Hall.
Offensively, Villanova has had six players find the back of the net with four recording multiple goals. Graduate student Makayla Stadler leads the way with five goals, while classmate Jackie Richards has added four goals and an assist.
Junior Megan Donnelly directs the Wildcats offense with four assists, while junior Brigid Molloy has dished our three assists herself.
Graduate student Payton Woodward has guided the Villanova defense from goal this season. She enters this weekend's matches with a 0.73 goals against average and 26 saves. Her 0.73 GAA currently ranks sixth in the BIG EAST.
Villanova was picked to finish ninth in this year's BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll as head coach Samar Azem enters her second season at the helm of the Wildcats.
Series History Against The Wildcats
Creighton and Villanova will battle for the 10th time in program history on Sunday afternoon. The Bluejays are 1-3-0 in matches played at Villanova and trail the overall series 4-5-0.
Last season, Creighton claimed a 2-0 win over the Wildcats in Omaha, behind goals from Azumi Manriki and Lara Kazandjian.
Villanova has won three of the four meetings in Philadelphia, with the Bluejays only win coming during the 2018 season.
Westlie Nets First Career Goal
In her first season with the Bluejays, sophomore Andrine Westlie found the back of the net for the first time in her career against Providence on Sunday, Oct. 1.
The Oklahoma transfer headed in a cross to the far post off a corner kick from senior Hannah Luke to secure the first points of her Bluejay career.
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 5,568 minutes in her career, 99.5 percent of the 5,598 possible minutes she could have played.
Dating back to last season, Steffen has played 2,450 consecutive minutes along the Creighton backline. Her 2,450 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 62 matches, making 61 starts and logging 5,612 total minutes in between the posts, ranking second on Creighton's all-time goalkeeper minutes played list.
This season, Terrell has played 900 minutes in goal for the Bluejays, posting a trio of shutouts against Kansas State, Minnesota and South Dakota State.
Goalkeeper Minutes Played
1. Jaimie Thompson 6,815 2000-03
2. Keelan Terrell 5,612 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 (5,612), sixth in total saves (201), seventh in goals against average (1.27), seventh in shutouts (16) and ninth in goalkeeper victories (19)
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. Danielle Rice 19 2013-14
Valerie Zimmerer 19 2003-06
9. Keelan Terrell 19 2019-present
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 201 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 1.27 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. Maggie Phelan 17 (6) 1997-00
7. Keelan Terrell 16 (0) 2019-present
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
Third Official RPI Rankings Released
The third 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 128 after four straight losses to open BIG EAST play.
BIG EAST in the RPI (Oct. 2 edition)
17. Georgetown
28. Xavier
52. Providence
56. Butler
63. Connecticut
79. Marquette
80. St. John's
128. Creighton
143. Seton Hall
145. Villanova
167. DePaul
Battled Tested Bluejays
Creighton owns a 2-6-4 record this season, but the 12 teams the Bluejays have played so far this fall have a combined record of 73-39-31 (.619).
With the third RPI rankings released on Monday, the Bluejays have faced three teams currently listed in the top 30 (0-2-1 vs those opponents) and six teams in the top 100 (0-6-2).
Team (RPI Rank) W-L-T (9/26) CU's Result
Nebraska (24) 8-2-3 T, 2-2
Missouri (53) 5-4-2 L, 1-3
Saint Louis (26) 9-2-2 L, 1-4
Kansas State (203) 2-8-3 T, 0-0
Drake (114) 7-3-2 T, 2-2
Minnesota (73) 4-4-4 T, 0-0
North Dakota State (214) 4-4-4 W, 3-2
South Dakota State (87) 10-2-0 W, 1-0
Connecticut (63) 5-2-3 L, 0-2
Georgetown (17) 7-1-4 L, 0-1
Marquette (79) 5-5-3 L, 1-3
Providence (52) 7-2-1 L, 1-3
