Women's Soccer Hosts Western Michigan in Home Opener On Thursday; Travels to Nebraska On Sunday

Match #3: Western Michigan Broncos (2-0-1) at Creighton Bluejays (1-1-0)
Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 • 11:00 a.m. CT • Omaha, Neb. • Morrison Stadium
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)

Match #4: Creighton Bluejays (1-1-0) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-2-0)
Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024 • 1:05 p.m. CT • Lincoln, Neb. • Hibner Stadium
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF) | NU NOTES (PDF)

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Creighton (1-1-0) opens the home portion of their 2024 schedule on Thursday at 11 a.m., when the Bluejays play host to Western Michigan (2-0-1) inside Morrison Stadium.

The Bluejays will then travel down I-80 to battle in-state rival Nebraska (1-2-0) on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. from Hibner Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.

Follow the Match

Thursday's match against Western Michigan will be broadcasted live on FloSports with Jon Schriner and Shad Beam on the call, while live stats will be available through StatBoardcast at http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com.

Sunday's match at Nebraska will also feature live stats through http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com, with the match broadcasted live on Big Ten Plus.

Links to video and live stats will be provided on the Creighton Women's Soccer schedule page.

Updates will also be provided during the match on Twitter (@CreightonWSoc).

Scouting Creighton (1-1-0)

The Bluejays opened the 2024 season with a 1-1 showing during the first week of action but will be returning to the pitch for the first time in 11-days on Thursday against Western Michigan.

Creighton dropped the season opener at Minnesota, 2-1, on Aug. 15, before responding with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Iowa State on Aug. 18 for their first win of the season.

Senior Azumi Manriki leads the team with four points on a pair of goals, while sophomore Tilly Thomas has added a goal of her own.

Junior Andrine Westlie has contributed the lone assist for the Bluejays this season, while junior Alyssa Zalac owns seven saves and has allowed three goals during 180 minutes of action in net.

The Bluejays bring back 15 letterwinners, including five returning starters who boast a wealth of experience from a season ago. Fifth-year seniors Lara Kazandjian, Ariana Mondiri and Stella Downing are expected to make significant impacts in the Bluejays offense this season, while seniors Maddie Radke and Alyssa Judkins anchor the Bluejays back line defensively.

Head coach Jimmy Walker is in his first season at the helm of the Bluejays and owns a 177-96-26 career record.

Scouting Western Michigan (2-0-1)

Western Michigan is 2-0-1 on the season and is riding some early momentum after picking up a pair of 3-0 wins over Northern Kentucky and Marquette. The Broncos lone tie to date was a 1-1 draw against No. 24 Iowa last weekend in Kalamazoo.

Graduate student Jen Blitchok has been a handful for teams this season, as the 2023 First Team All-MAC selection has netted five of the Broncos first seven goals this year. Blitchok's five goals currently are tied for the nation's lead, while her 10 total points rank tied for sixth nationally.

Senior Abby Werthman ranks second on the team with five points, having dished out a team-high three assists while scoring one goal. In total, the Broncos have recorded 13 total assists from seven different individuals.

Junior Ava Wilberding has played every minute (270) in goal for Western Michigan this season, collecting 16 total saves while allowing just one goal.

WMU had an historic season in 2023, posting a 12-4-3 overall record while claiming the program's first ever Mid-American Conference Regular Season championship. The Broncos return six All-MAC performers and one All-MAC Tournament honoree from last season, including Defensive Player of the Year Mira Pierre-Webster and Goalkeeper of the Year Lauren Boafo.

Head coach Lewis Robinson is in his third season at the helm and owns a 19-13-9 overall record at Western Michigan.

Series History Against the Broncos

Battling for the first time since 2006, Creighton holds a 1-0-1 lead in the all-time series with Western Michigan.

Both of the previous meetings have taken place in Omaha. In fact, the first even meeting between the two schools in 2003, was the Bluejays first ever game played inside the newly constructed Morrison Stadium.

Creighton and Western Michigan recently matched up on September 10, 2006, with the Bluejays earning a 2-0 win over the Broncos.

Head coach Jimmy Walker is 1-0-2 against Western Michigan while serving as head coach at Bowling Green State.

Scouting Nebraska (1-2-0)

The Cornhuskers enter Thursday's match vs. Omaha with a 1-2-0 record, claiming a 3-2 victory over Colorado State during the opening weekend of the season.

Nebraska also suffered a 2-0 loss to Oklahoma State in the season opener and is coming off a 3-0 setback to Duke last week.

Senior Sarah Weber recorded the first hat trick of her career in the win over Colorado State, earning the first Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 19. Weber has netted all three of the Cornhuskers goals this season, while Florence Belzile and Jordan Zade have each dished out a pair of assists.

Nebraska finished the 2023 season with a 17-4-3 record, reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual runner-up Stanford, 2-1, in double-overtime.

Preseason ranked No. 6 by the United Soccer Coaches Association, Nebraska returned three of their four All-Big Ten performers from last season, including Weber, Zade and senior Haley Peterson.

Nebraska was picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Head Coach John Walker is in his 31st season at the helm and owns an overall record of 365-194-61 at Nebraska.

Series History Against The Cornhuskers

Creighton is 3-4-2 all-time against Nebraska, including a 2-3-1 mark in matches played in Lincoln.

The Bluejays and Cornhuskers met in the season-opener last season in Omaha, with the two teams walking away with a 2-2 draw. Fifth-year senior Maddie Radke netted the Bluejays first goal of the season in the 48th minute of play, while Hannah Luke delivered the equalizer in the 83rd minute to earn the draw.

Prior to last season's meeting, Nebraska and Creighton last met in 2005. The Cornhuskers have claimed victories in four of the last six meetings. Creighton's last win in the series was a 1-0 triumph in Lincoln on Sept. 3, 1995.

Walker's MAC Reunion

Head coach Jimmy Walker has plenty of experience coaching against teams from the Mid-American Conference.

Coming from MAC powerhouse Bowling Green, Walker posted an incredible 26-6-6 overall record during conference play, claiming a pair of MAC Regular season and tournament championships.

Western Michigan was Bowling Green's rival during Walker's time with the Falcons. In 2023, WMU and BGSU battled to a scoreless draw in the regular season, but the Broncos earned the regular season title with a 8-0-3 league record.

Home Sweet Home

Creighton opens the home portion of their schedule on Thursday afternoon against Western Michigan.

Including last year's 2-2 draw against Nebraska in the season opener, the Bluejays are 21-9-5 all-time in home-openers, which includes an 12-5-4 mark during home-openers at Morrison Stadium.

Overall, the Bluejays are 113-61-27 (.629) at home since Morrison Stadium opened in 2003. In addition, Creighton holds a 51-36-12 mark at Morrison Stadium since joining the BIG EAST in 2013 and a 17-29-5 record 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

Largest Crowds in Bluejay History

With Creighton men's and women's soccer hosting a doubleheader on Thursday night, the Bluejays are expecting a large crowd to fill the bleacher against Western Michigan.

Seven of the top-11 largest crowds have come since the Bluejays made the move to the BIG EAST in 2023. Last season, Creighton hosted the third largest crowd in program history, as 1,834 fans saw the Bluejays deliver a pair of second half equalizing goals to earn a 2-2 draw against Nebraska in the 2023 season opener.

The largest crowd to witness a Creighton women's soccer game was on Sept. 16, 2017, when Creighton claimed a 3-1 victory over Omaha in front of 2,308 fans.

During the 2023 season Creighton ranks second in the BIG EAST and 69th nationally in average home attendance with an average of 719 fans per home match.

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. 1,413 vs. South Dakota State, Sept. 15, 2023 (W, 1-0)

8. 1,289 vs. Northern Iowa, Sept. 23, 2011 (W, 1-0)

9. 1,277 vs. Arizona State, Sept. 18, 2009 (L, 1-2)

10. 1,251 vs. Kansas, Sept. 29, 2006 (W, 1-0)

*11. 1,248 vs. South Dakota, Sept. 7, 2018 (W, 2-1 OT)

* - Socctoberfest Matches

Scoring First Yields Success

Despite finishing the 2023 season with a 2-1-2 record and dropping the season opener to Minnesota after score scoring first, Creighton has had incredible success when netting a goal first since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.

Since the start of the 2013 season, the Bluejays own a 61-12-12 record when finding the back of the net first, but a 19-76-8 mark, including a 1-0-1 record this season, when their opponent scores first and 0-0-7 in scoreless draws.

Battled Tested Bluejays

Ranked as one of the toughest schedules in the country, Creighton has its work cut out for them this season as they face a grueling slate.

CU opened the season with a pair of matches against Power 5 opponents in Minnesota and Iowa State, who have a combined 3-0-1 record against opponents that are not Creighton.

In addition, the Bluejays travel down I-80 this weekend to battle United Soccer Coaches' Preseason Ranked No. 6 Nebraska in Lincoln. CU will return home on Sept. 6 to battle No. 15th ranked and perennial Atlantic 10 powerhouse Saint Louis in the Jays annual Socctoberfest match.

With a 1-1-0 record this season, Creighton still has a tough road to navigate as their future opponents have a combined record of 22-11-12 through two weeks of play.

Team (2023 RPI Rank) W-L-T (8/27) CU's Result

Minnesota (83) 2-0-0 L, 1-2

Iowa State (168) 2-1-1 W, 2-1

Western Michigan (87) 2-0-1 -

Nebraska (20) 1-2-0 -

Saint Louis (10) 1-0-2 -

Kansas City (237) 2-0-2 -

Georgetown (12) 2-0-1 -

Villanova (205) 2-1-0 -

Marquette (131) 0-3-1 -

Xavier (27) 4-0-0 -

UConn (49) 1-1-1 -

Providence (54) 2-1-0 -

DePaul (147) 0-2-1 -

Seton Hall (166) 2-1-1 -

Butler (118) 2-0-1 -

St. John's (65) 1-0-1 -

Bringing the Physicality

Over the course of the last few years there is one portion of the game that Creighton is not shy to bring, and that is the physicality.

Through the first two matches this season, Creighton has racked up 38 fouls and a total of five yellow cards. The Bluejays 19.00 fouls per game currently leads the country for fouls per contest.

In 2023, the Bluejays were called for 11.28 fouls pre match, ranking 33rd in the nation. Creighton was also only booked for a total of 12 yellow cards all of last season.

During the Bluejays' 2-1 win over Iowa State on Aug. 18, Creighton was called for 27 fouls over the course of the match. The Bluejays 27 fouls were its most in a single match since being called for 30 fouls during a match against Illinois State on Nov. 9, 2003.

Year Fouls Per Game National Rank

2024 19.00 1st

2023 11.28 33rd

2022 9.85 118th

2021 9.17 169th

2020 10.70 48th

2019 11.56 39th

2018 8.94 171st

Scoring Two Works Almost Everytime

It would stand to reason that scoring goals increases a team's chances of winning. For the Bluejays, that is most certainly the case.

Since the program began in 1989, Creighton owns a 273-22-12 all-time record when scoring two or more goals in a match, including its 2-1 win over Iowa State on Aug. 18. On the flip side, the Bluejays are 46-248-52 when being held to fewer than two goals.

Additionally, the Bluejays are 66-7-3 when scoring two or more goals, but 14-81-24 when netting fewer than two goals since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.

Leading the Ship

Seniors Stella Downing, Alyssa Judkins, Maddie Radke and Abigail Santana were chosen by the players as captains for the 2024 season.

Santana was voted as a captain for the second straight season, while Downing, Judkins and Radke are each earning the honor for the first time in their Bluejay careers.

International Flavor

Creighton finds players from all over the globe to come to Omaha, Nebraska to play soccer and this year's roster features a more robust team with players from nine different countries.

Creighton head coach Jimmy Walker has gathered a group of 12 players from eight different international countries, while the remaining 18 players hail from the United States.

Canada: (4) Stella Downing, Lara Kazandjian, Tejia Murray-Powell, Alyssa Zalac

England: (2) Millie Thistleton, Tilly Thomas

France: (1) Ariana Mondiri

Germany: (1) Caroline Blum

Japan: (1) Azumi Manriki

Norway: (1) Andrine Westlie

Puerto Rico: (1) Jess Torres

Serbia: (1) Anja Jestrovic

United State: (18)

Production Returns

Creighton returns just five players who started nine or more matches from last fall's team that finished 4-9-5 and 2-7-1 in the BIG EAST Conference.

All told, CU returns 54.5 percent of its starts, 56.0 percent of its minutes, 80.0 percent of its goals, 56.3 percent of its assists, 73.2 percent of its points, 83.0 percent of its shots and 22.1 percent of its saves off of last year's squad.

Below is a breakdown of the production that is back:

Stat Returners Departures

Starts 108 (54.5%) 90 (45.5%)

Minutes 9,973 (56.0%) 7,847 (44.0%)

Goals 16 (80.0%) 4 (20.0%)

Assists 9 (56.3%) 7 (43.7%)

Points 41 (73.2%) 15 (26.8%)

Shots 176 (83.0%) 36 (17.0%)

Saves 18 (23.4%) 59 (76.6%)

Women's Soccer Hosts Western Michigan in Home Opener On Thursday; Travels to Nebraska On Sunday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Caroline Blum

Stella Downing

Anja Jestrovic

Alyssa Judkins

Lara Kazandjian

Hannah Luke

Azumi Manriki

Ariana Mondiri

Tejia Murray-Powell

Maddie Radke

Abigail Santana

Millie Thistleton

Tilly Thomas

Jess Torres

Andrine Westlie

Alyssa Zalac

Women's Soccer Hosts Western Michigan in Home Opener On Thursday; Travels to Nebraska On Sunday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Caroline Blum

Stella Downing

Anja Jestrovic

Alyssa Judkins

Lara Kazandjian

Hannah Luke

Azumi Manriki

Ariana Mondiri

Tejia Murray-Powell

Maddie Radke

Abigail Santana

Millie Thistleton

Tilly Thomas

Jess Torres

Andrine Westlie

Alyssa Zalac

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