Thursday, August 15
Minneapolis, Minn
7:00 PM
Creighton University
0-1-0, 0-0-0
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at
2
Minnesota
1-0-0, 0-0-0
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Creighton
1
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Minnesota
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Photo by: Joey Kurtz
Women’s Soccer Suffers 2-1 Loss in Season Opener
8/15/2024 9:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Despite a strong first half and an early goal from senior Azumi Manriki, the Creighton women's soccer team suffered a 2-1 loss at Minnesota on Thursday night in the 2024 season opener.
The loss dropped the Bluejays to 0-1-0 on the year, while falling to 17-15-4 all-time in season-opening matches.
Creighton blitzed out to an early 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of play as Manriki blasted a shot from 25-yard out into the top left corner of the net, off a failed clear by the Golden Gophers for the Bluejays first goal of the season.
Manriki's fifth minute (4:00) goal was the Bluejays first goal in the first half of a season-opening match since Taryn Jakubowski converted a penalty kick in the 45th minute against Kansas State in 2019.
Creighton continued to control play throughout the first half, taking a 1-0 advantage into the break.
Coming out of the locker room, Minnesota gained its offensive footing, leveling the match at 1-1 in the 66th minute. Caroline Birdsall put the Golden Gophers on the board, firing a shot into the back of the net off a centering cross into the box by Evelyn Calhoon.
Less than eight minutes later, the Golden Gophers took a 2-1 lead as Birdsall netted her second goal of the contest. Birdsall recorded the tally, slotting a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box past the outstretched diving reach of Bluejay goalkeeper Alyssa Zalac, with Calhoon collecting her second assist of the match.
Staying aggressive throughout the remained of the match, Creighton looked to deliver an equalizer but were unable to break the Golden Gophers back line as Minnesota held on for the victory.
Minnesota closed the match with a 12-5 edge in shots and a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks. Zalac suffered the loss while collecting a career-high six total saves.
The Bluejays return to action on Sunday, Aug. 18 as Creighton head to Ames, Iowa to take on Iowa State at 6 p.m.
The loss dropped the Bluejays to 0-1-0 on the year, while falling to 17-15-4 all-time in season-opening matches.
Creighton blitzed out to an early 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of play as Manriki blasted a shot from 25-yard out into the top left corner of the net, off a failed clear by the Golden Gophers for the Bluejays first goal of the season.
Manriki's fifth minute (4:00) goal was the Bluejays first goal in the first half of a season-opening match since Taryn Jakubowski converted a penalty kick in the 45th minute against Kansas State in 2019.
Creighton continued to control play throughout the first half, taking a 1-0 advantage into the break.
Coming out of the locker room, Minnesota gained its offensive footing, leveling the match at 1-1 in the 66th minute. Caroline Birdsall put the Golden Gophers on the board, firing a shot into the back of the net off a centering cross into the box by Evelyn Calhoon.
Less than eight minutes later, the Golden Gophers took a 2-1 lead as Birdsall netted her second goal of the contest. Birdsall recorded the tally, slotting a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box past the outstretched diving reach of Bluejay goalkeeper Alyssa Zalac, with Calhoon collecting her second assist of the match.
Staying aggressive throughout the remained of the match, Creighton looked to deliver an equalizer but were unable to break the Golden Gophers back line as Minnesota held on for the victory.
Minnesota closed the match with a 12-5 edge in shots and a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks. Zalac suffered the loss while collecting a career-high six total saves.
The Bluejays return to action on Sunday, Aug. 18 as Creighton head to Ames, Iowa to take on Iowa State at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
CRET
MINN
Goals
1
2
Shots
5
12
Shots on Goal
2
8
Saves
6
1
Corners
1
3
Fouls
11
8
Scoring Plays
Azumi Manriki (1)
GOAL by CRET Manriki, Azumi.
04:00
Caroline Birdsell (2)
Assisted By: Evelyn Calhoon , Khyah Harper
GOAL by MINN Birdsell, Caroline Assist by Calhoon, Evelyn and Harper, Khyah.
65:51
Caroline Birdsell (2)
Assisted By: Evelyn Calhoon , Paige Kalal
GOAL by MINN Birdsell, Caroline Assist by Calhoon, Evelyn and Kalal, Paige.
66:44
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
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