Creighton University
Minnesota
Bluejay Women’s Soccer Kick Starts Socctoberfest Against Minnesota on Friday, Heads To North Dakota State on Sunday
9/7/2023 10:10:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Battle with the Golden Gophers kicks off ninth annual Socctoberfest
Match #6: Creighton Bluejays (0-2-3) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-1-0)
Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 • 4:00 p.m.
Omaha, Neb. | Morrison Stadium
Television: FloSport
Series History: Tied 2-2-1
LIVE VIDEO | FLOSPORTS INFO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF) | MINN NOTES (PDF)
Match #7: Creighton Bluejays (0-2-3) at North Dakota State Bison (2-2-2)
Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 • 1:00 p.m.
Fargo, N.D. | Dacotah Field
Television: Summit League Network
Series History: Creighton Leads 4-2-1
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)
Up Next
Returning home from a three-match road trip, Creighton hosts Minnesota on Friday afternoon for the Bluejays' annual Socctoberfest match before traveling to North Dakota State on Sunday.
The Bluejays and Golden Gophers will play on Friday at 4 p.m., while kickoff for the North Dakota State match on Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Dacotah Field in Fargo, N.D.
Follow the Match
Friday and Sunday's match will feature both live video and live stats.
Live video for Friday's contests will be available on FloSports with Noah Sullinger and Maren McCrary on the call. Sunday's match against North Dakota State will be streamed on the Summit League Network. Live stats will be featured through http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com for both contests.
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 (0-2-3)
Searching for their first win of the season, Creighton enters the weekend with an 0-2-3 overall record, including draws against Nebraska, Kansas State and Drake.
Seniors Azumi Manriki and Abigail Santana lead the team with three points on a goal and an assist, while seniors Maddie Radke and Hannah Luke as well as freshman Savanna Solomon have each delivered a goal for Creighton this season. Senior's Gabby Grimaldi and Lara Kazandjian have also recorded one assist this season.
Fifth-year senior Keelan Terrell has been the driving force for the Bluejays in goal this season. In five matches, Terrell has collected 21 saves while playing all 450 minutes and posting one shutout in between the posts.
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 Kazandjian.
Creighton also welcomes in 14 newcomers, including transfer Andrine Westlie and freshmen Maia and Shani Sirota (Israel) who 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 Minnesota (4-1-1)
Minnesota is 4-1-1 on the season with wins over Niagara, New Hampshire, Marquette and St. Thomas. The Golden Gophers also posted a scoreless draw against then No. 22 Georgia after suffering their only loss of the season to Milwaukee.
Seven different Golden Gophers have scored a goal this season with Sophia Boman leading the way with five goals. Megan Nemec has contributed three goals herself, while Sophia Romine and Izzy Brown have also added multiple goals.
Additionally, nine different Minnesota players have dished out an assist this season, with Kate Childers dishing out a team-best three assists.
Graduate Megan Plaschko has played 517 of the 540 minutes in goal this season, posting four shutouts and a 0.35 goals against average. The Eagan, Minn. native has secured 12 saves this season, while earning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week earlier this week.
Last season Minnesota posted an 8-8-3 overall record and returns three of the top four leading scorers led by All-Big Ten Second Teamer Boman.
Minnesota was picked to finish ninth in this year's Big Ten Preseason Coaches' poll as head coach Erin Chastain enters her third season at the helm of the Golden Gophers.
Series History Against The Golden Gophers
Creighton and Minnesota have met five previous times with the series tied at 2-2-1. The most recent match between the two teams was on Nov. 12, 2010, in the NCAA Tournament, when the Golden Gophers claimed a 4-2 victory.
Minnesota has won the last two meetings, while both Bluejay victories over the Golden Gophers came during the 1993 season. Creighton opened the year with a 3-2 win in Minneapolis and then outlasted Minnesota 1-0 in overtime in the Creighton Fall Classic a month later.
Creighton is 1-0-0 against Minnesota in matches played in Omaha.
Scouting North Dakota State (2-2-2)
North Dakota State enters the weekend with a 2-2-2 record with a pair of victories over Austin Peay (4-1) and Coastal Carolina (1-0). The Bison are coming off a 1-1 draw with The Citadel last Sunday and will play host to Northern Colorado on Friday before taking on the Bluejays.
Offensively, Amaya Garrett leads the Bison with two goals, while six other NDSU players have notched one goal apiece. Kelsey Kallio has dished out a team-high two assists while Ava Stanchina and Loretta Wacek had contributed a goal and an assist.
Abby Wilkinson has played all 540 minutes in goal for the Bison this season, recording one shutout. The senior has collected 29 saves, while owning a 1.33 goals against average.
Last season the Bison finished 8-9-3 overall and fifth in the Summit League with a 4-5-0 league record. Among the returners is All-Summit League Second Teamer Paige Goaley and Honorable Mention honoree Wilkinson.
North Dakota State was picked fifth overall in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll. Head Coach Mike Regan is in his sixth year at the helm of the Bison.
Series History Against The Bison
Creighton and North Dakota State have met six times previously, with the Bluejays holding an 4-2-1 edge in the all-time series.
The Bluejays are 4-0-1 all-time in matches played in Omaha but are 0-2-0 in matches played in Fargo.
The two teams last met in 2021, with the Bluejays' securing a 2-0 lead behind a game-winning goal from senior Abigail Santana. The last time Creighton traveled to North Dakota State was during the 2009 season.
Socctoberfest Success
Friday's match against Minnesota marks
Creighton's ninth Annual Socctoberfest event.
The Bluejays are an impressive 6-1-1 in Socctoberfest matches dating back to 2012, with wins over New Mexico State, Omaha, South Dakota Iowa State and Colorado College. Creighton has outscored the opposition 19-6 in those matches.
The Bluejays first Socctoberfest victory came on Sept. 5, 2014, when Creighton defeated New Mexico State, 6-0. The Bluejays picked up a 2-1 win against Colorado College last season during Socctoberfest at Morrison Stadium.
The Bluejay women's squad did not play during the 2013 or 2021 Socctoberfest due to schedule issues.
Bluejay Women's Soccer at Socctoberfest (6-1-1)
Date Opponent Result Atten.
10/20/12 Evansville L, 0-1 557
9/5/14 New Mexico State W, 6-0 509
9/4/15 Omaha W, 4-0 1058
9/9/16 South Dakota W, 2-1 1444
9/8/17 Kansas City T, 2-2 958
9/6/18 South Dakota W, 2-1 (ot) 1248
9/6/19 Iowa State W, 1-0 1246
9/9/22 Colorado College W, 2-1 896
Largest Crowds in Bluejay History
Creighton is expecting a large Crowd for Friday's Socctoberfest match against Minnesota.
Three of the top-11 largest crowds were during Socctoberfest matches. The 2016 Socctoberfest match against South Dakota was the largest attended Socctoberfest match and was seen by the sixth largest crowd in school history.
Earlier this season Creighton hosted the third largest crowd in school history, as 1,834 fans saw the Bluejays deliver a pair of equalizing goals in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw against Nebraska in the season opener on Aug. 17.
Top-11 Creighton Women's Soccer Home Crowds
1. 2,308 vs. Nebraska-Omaha, Sept. 16. 2017 (W, 3-1)
2. 2,023 vs. Kansas State, Aug. 23, 2019 (W, 3-2)
3. 1,834 vs. Nebraska, Aug. 17, 2023 (T, 2-2)
4. 1,678 vs. Nebraska-Omaha, Sept. 20, 2013 (W, 3-2)
5. 1,547 vs. Iowa, Sept. 21, 2007 (L, 0-1)
*6. 1,444 vs. South Dakota, Sept. 9, 2016 (W, 2-1)
7. 1,289 vs. Northern Iowa, Sept. 23, 2011 (W, 1-0)
8. 1,277 vs. Arizona State, Sept. 18, 2009 (L, 1-2)
9. 1,251 vs. Kansas, Sept. 29, 2006 (W, 1-0)
*10. 1,248 vs. South Dakota, Sept. 7, 2018 (W, 2-1 OT)
*11. 1,246 vs. Iowa State, Sept. 6, 2019 (W, 1-0)
* - Socctoberfest Matches
Connections to Minnesota
One member of Minnesota's team has direct ties to Creighton. Graduate student Jordy Rothwell spent four years guiding the Bluejays backline, earning All-BIG EAST Second Team honors in 2022 and a spot on the All-BIG EAST Freshman team in 2019.
Over the course of her four-year career at Creighton, Rothwell appeared in 60 matches, making 56 starts and logging a combined 5,203 minutes. She also recorded four goals and dished out two assists as a Bluejay.
Creighton Success Against The Summit
Sunday's match at North Dakota State marks the first match against a member of the Summit League this season. Creighton has battled at least one current member of the Summit League in 18 of the last 19 seasons. The only season the Bluejays did not match-up against a Summit League opponent was during the 2020 Covid-19 season. Creighton owns a 56-11-8 all-time record against current members of the Summit League.
Team Overall Record Against
Denver 4-1-0
Kansas City 7-3-3
North Dakota 5-0-0
North Dakota State 4-2-1
Omaha 9-1-0
Oral Roberts 3-1-1
St. Thomas Have not met
South Dakota 11-1-1
South Dakota State 13-2-2
The Non-Conference Gauntlet
This season head coach Ross Paule arguably put together the toughest non-conference schedule in program history.
Creighton opened the season with a match-up against Nebraska, who was receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Association poll, before battling Power 5 opponent Missouri. Creighton then traveled to defending A10 conference champion Saint Louis, who was also receiving votes in the polls before once against facing off against another Power 5 conference opponent in Kansas State.
Creighton still have one Power 5 conference opponent remaining on the schedule as Creighton hosts Minnesota in the Bluejays annual socctoberfest on Sept. 8.
All told, five of Creighton's eight non-conference opponents owned eight or more wins last season, while the eight opponents combined for a 73-53-29 record last fall.
Home Sweet Home
Creighton is 0-1-1 in home matches this season, including a 2-2 draw against Nebraska in the season-opener on Aug. 17. Creighton is now 111-57-26 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 49-32-11 mark at Morrison Stadium since the start of 2013, when the program joined the BIG EAST and a 16-25-5 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 4,938 minutes in her career, 99.4 percent of the 4,968 possible minutes she could have played.
Dating back to last season, Steffen has played 1,820 consecutive minutes along the Creighton backline. Her 1,820 consecutive minutes played is the longest stretch by a Bluejay player since Keelan Terrell played 2,193 consecutive minutes in goal between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
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 57 matches, making 56 starts and logging 5,162 total minutes in between the posts, ranking fourth on Creighton's all-time goalkeeper minutes played list.
Her 5,162 total minutes in goal currently ranks 24th among active goalkeepers in Division I.
This season, Terrell has played all 450 minutes in goal for the Bluejays, posting a trio of draws against Nebraska, Kansas State and Drake.
Goalkeeper Minutes Played
1. Jaimie Thompson 6,815 2000-03
2. Denise Zaver 5,287 1990-93
3. Kristen Casey 5,180 2005-08
4. Keelan Terrell 5,162 2019-present
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 fourth in goalkeeper minutes (5,162), sixth in goals against average (1.24), seventh in shutouts (14), eighth in total saves (181) and ninth in goalkeeper victories (17)
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 17 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. Danielle Rice 199 2013-14
7. Maggie Phelan 193 1997-00
8. Keelan Terrell 181 2019-present
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. Keelan Terrell 1.24 2019-present
6. Katie Jo Swanson 1.24 2009-12
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 14 (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
Scoring First Yields Success
Creighton finished 8-0-2 during the 2022 season when scoring first, but 0-4-4 when its opponent scores first.
Additionally, the Bluejays were a perfect 6-0-0 when leading at the half, but 0-3-3 when trailing after 45 minutes and 2-1-5 when the score was tied at halftime.
This year Creighton is 0-1-1 when scoring first, but 0-1-1 when the opponents score first and 0-0-2 when the score is tied at the break.
Overall, Creighton is 46-12-9 when leading at the half, but 10-54-7 when trailing after 45 minutes and 0-0-7 when tied at half under head coach Ross Paule.
Creighton's last come-from-behind victory and last victory when trailing at the half came during the 2020 season against DePaul (April 4), when Aida Kardovic and Lea Høiness each netted goals in the second half for a 2-1 win.
Welcome Back Hitomi
Graduate Hitomi Yamaue returned to the pitch for the first time in 346 days in Creighton's 2-2 draw at Drake on Sept. 3, 2023.
Yamaue torn her ACL during a match against Connecticut on Sept. 22, 2022, and missed the rest of the 2022 season and the first four matches of the 2023 season.
In her two seasons with the Bluejays, Yamaue has appeared in 28 matches, logging 1,864 minutes of action.
Freshman Contribution
Freshman Savanna Solomon delivered in a big way on Sunday against Drake, netting the go-ahead goal and the first goal of her collegiate career.
Solomon headed in the goal from just outside the six-yard box on a cross into the box from senior Gabby Grimaldi.
The goal was the first Bluejay goal scored by a Creighton freshman since Hailey Rothwell netted the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in a 2-0 win over Seton Hall on Oct. 17, 2021. Solomon also became just the 24th true freshman to score a goal for the Bluejays since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.
