Savic Repeats as BIG EAST Rookie of the Week
9/18/2023 1:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Gillingham Earns Honor Roll Spot
Savic and the Bluejay defense limited #13 Marquette to just six shots in a 2-1 win over the Golden Eagles on Friday. Marquette entered Friday's contest 20th in the NCAA averaging just under 16 shots per game and second in the NCAA in total goals. Savic added an assist in the win over Marquette and a goal in Creighton's 2-1 loss to Kansas City earlier in the week to lead the Bluejays with three points in two matches.
Gillingham made the most of his first appearance as a Bluejay, denying five of six shots to post a 2-1 victory over #13 Marquette in the BIG EAST opener on Friday. Gillingham played the entire match against the Golden Eagles, slowing their dynamic offensive attack with an aggressive attacking style in the net.
Gillingham and Savic as well as the rest of the Bluejays squad return to the pitch on Tuesday evening as Creighton faces Tulsa in a road contest at 7:00 p.m.
The rest of the BIG EAST's Weekly Awards are below.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Jason Shokalook, Akron, Jr., F (Erie, Pa.) Shokalook turned in a stellar week for Akron registering team-high marks in goals (3), assists (1), points (7), shots (8), shots on goal (5) and game-winners (1) en route to leading the Zips to a 1-0-1 mark, including a 2-0 victory over then-No. 11 FIU. Shokalook netted his third career multi-goal performance against the Panthers accounting for both of Akron's goals on the strength of a team-high four shots, with three falling on net. In the Zips' BIG EAST opener versus Providence on Friday, Shokalook collected a goal and an assist in a 3-3 draw with the Friars. Trailing 3-1 in the 78th minute, Shokalook delivered a successful penalty kick before collecting an assist on the game-tying goal from Daragh Reilly in the 87th minute.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Kenny Nielsen, Georgetown, Sr., D (Irvine, Calif.) Going the distance in the Hoyas' conference season opener on Friday, Nielsen anchored the Georgetown defense in a hard-fought road win over Seton Hall. In a matchup between a pair of BIG EAST teams receiving votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Rankings, Georgetown registered its first shutout of the year, limiting the Pirates to just six shots and one shot on target in the 1-0 win.
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week
Caleb Norris, Butler, R-Sr., GK (Grand Blanc, Mich.) Norris was a stalwart in net on Friday in Butler's conference opening win over Villanova, making a career-high 11 saves. In the fifth minute, Norris made a diving save to deflect a ball heading toward the left post, one of five early saves against seven shots to kick off the match. In his past three starts, Norris has acted as a brick wall allowing just two goals and corralling 29 saves with a 0.935 save percentage. Overall, the redshirt senior has 33 saves and a 0.825 save percentage in five outings in 2023.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Palmer Ault, Butler, So., F (Noblesville, Ind.)
Ault registered a goal in each half to lead Butler to a win over Villanova on Friday, the Bulldogs first win of the year. The sophomore scored in the 17th minute off a long service ball from Jan Quispel, before putting the game out of reach in the 65th minute off a volley.
Jayden Hibbert, Connecticut, So., GK (Teaneck, N.J.)
Hibbert notched his second shutout of the season against Manhattan, making four saves. On Friday, Hibbert came up big against St. John's registering three saves off 14 Red Storm shots.
Scott Testori, Connecticut, Jr., F (Madison, Conn.
Testori helped the Huskies go 2-0-0 this week, scoring a goal in a win over Manhattan and registering three points (1G and 1 A) in UConn's BIG EAST opening win over St. John's.
Gevork Diarbian, Providence, Sr., F (Cranston, R.I.)
Diarbian placed the Friars up 2-0 against third-ranked Akron in Friday's conference opening draw, scoring his first goal of the year with a one-touch finish off Pearse O'Brien's cross.
