Stella Downing Named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
10/7/2024 12:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton senior midfielder Stella Downing collected the first weekly honor of her career, earning BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week as announced by the league on Monday, Oct. 7.
Downing led the Bluejays to a 1-1-0 record this week, recording her first career goal and the first brace of her collegiate career during Creighton's 2-1 win over UConn on Sunday.
After recording two shots, including one on goal, in the Bluejays 2-1 setback to Xavier on Thursday, Downing led the Jays with a pair of goals in Creighton's 2-1 win over UConn on Sunday afternoon. The Vancouver, Canada native touched the back of the net for the first time in her career in the 13th minutes, as a fumbled ball from UConn's MaryKate Ward fell to the foot of Downing, who tapping a shot into the net to give the Jays a 1-0 lead.
With the match leveled at 1-1 and less than six minutes remaining, Downing found herself on an island with the Huskies goalkeeper off a perfectly placed pass from senior Ariana Mondiri. Downing then drove in her second goal of the match and the game-winner with a rocket past the outstretched reach of Ward in the 85th minute (84:44) to give the Bluejays a 2-1 lead.
Netting two goals on Sunday, Downing became the first Bluejay to score twice in a match since Abigail Santana logged two goals against North Dakota State on Sept. 10, 2023. In addition, Downing became just the fourth Bluejay to score two goals in a BIG EAST match since joining the league in 2013, joining Skylar Heinrich (vs. Marquette, 3/21/21), Taryn Jakubowski (vs. Providence, 10/26/17, vs. Xavier, 10/23/16) and Lauren Sullivan (vs. Marquette, 9/25/16, vs. Providence, 10/17/15, vs. Villanova, 10/4/15).
Downing and the rest of the Bluejays will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 13 when they welcome Providence to Morrison Stadium for a 1 p.m. contest.
Downing led the Bluejays to a 1-1-0 record this week, recording her first career goal and the first brace of her collegiate career during Creighton's 2-1 win over UConn on Sunday.
After recording two shots, including one on goal, in the Bluejays 2-1 setback to Xavier on Thursday, Downing led the Jays with a pair of goals in Creighton's 2-1 win over UConn on Sunday afternoon. The Vancouver, Canada native touched the back of the net for the first time in her career in the 13th minutes, as a fumbled ball from UConn's MaryKate Ward fell to the foot of Downing, who tapping a shot into the net to give the Jays a 1-0 lead.
With the match leveled at 1-1 and less than six minutes remaining, Downing found herself on an island with the Huskies goalkeeper off a perfectly placed pass from senior Ariana Mondiri. Downing then drove in her second goal of the match and the game-winner with a rocket past the outstretched reach of Ward in the 85th minute (84:44) to give the Bluejays a 2-1 lead.
Netting two goals on Sunday, Downing became the first Bluejay to score twice in a match since Abigail Santana logged two goals against North Dakota State on Sept. 10, 2023. In addition, Downing became just the fourth Bluejay to score two goals in a BIG EAST match since joining the league in 2013, joining Skylar Heinrich (vs. Marquette, 3/21/21), Taryn Jakubowski (vs. Providence, 10/26/17, vs. Xavier, 10/23/16) and Lauren Sullivan (vs. Marquette, 9/25/16, vs. Providence, 10/17/15, vs. Villanova, 10/4/15).
Downing and the rest of the Bluejays will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 13 when they welcome Providence to Morrison Stadium for a 1 p.m. contest.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Stella Downing, Creighton, Sr., M
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Jr., D
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week
Cara Martin, Georgetown, Jr., GK
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Samantha Erbach, Xavier, Fr., F
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Anna Pierce, Butler, R-Jr., GK
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Jr., F
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Sr., M
Chiara Pucci, Seton Hall, Sr., D
Samantha Wiehe, Xavier, Sr., M
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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