Creighton University
#19 Saint Louis
Bluejay Women’s Soccer Kick Starts Socctoberfest Against #19 Saint Louis on Friday
9/5/2024 9:25:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match #5: #19 Saint Louis Billikens (2-1-2) at Creighton Bluejays (2-2-0)
Friday, Sept. 6, 2024 • 5:00 p.m. CT • Omaha, Neb. • Morrison Stadium
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)
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Returning home from a short trip down I-80, Creighton (2-2-0) hosts No. 19 ranked Saint Louis (2-1-2) on Friday at 5 p.m. in the Bluejays 10th annual Socctoberfest match.
Follow the Match
Sunday's match will feature both live video and live stats. Fans can watch all the action on FloSports with Connor Happer and Shad Beam on the call, while live stats will be featured through statbroadcast at http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com.
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 also be provided during the match on Twitter (@CreightonWSoc).
Scouting Creighton (2-2-0)
The Bluejays are off to a 2-2-0 start this season with wins over Iowa State (2-1, Aug. 18) and Western Michigan (3-0, Aug. 29), but are looking to rebound from a loss at in-state rival Nebraska earlier this week.
Senior Azumi Manriki leads the team with six points on a trio of goals, while fellow classmate Ariana Mondiri follows closely behind with a pair of goals.
Sophomore Tilly Thomas has added a goal of her own, while senior Marissa LeVine and junior Kelis Brown each netted their first career goals this past week.
Junior Alyssa Zalac has spent all 360 minutes in net for the Bluejays this season, recording 15 saves but allowing eight total goals. Last week Zalac earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after collecting her first career shutout against Western Michigan.
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 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 178-97-26 career record.
Scouting #19 Saint Louis (2-1-2)
Ranked #19 nationally, Saint Louis is 2-1-2 this season with the lone loss coming to then-No. 12 Penn State (2-1 on Sept. 1). The Billikens, however, own wins on the road at Missouri (2-0, Aug. 25) and Missouri State (4-0, Aug. 29) while earning draws against Kansas City (0-0, Aug. 15) and No. 4 BYU (1-1, Aug. 22).
Six different Billikens have found the back of the net this season, with Emily Gaebe leading the way with three goals on a team-high 20 shots, while Lyndsey Heckel ranks second on the team with three points on a goal and an assist.
Graduate Emily Puricelli, the reigning A-10 Goalkeeper of the Year, had played 423 of the 432 minutes in goal this season, posting a pair of shutouts and a 0.89 goals against average. The St. Louis native is the school's all-time leader in career goalkeeper victories (69), shutouts (42) and goalkeeper minutes (8,095), while ranking second in goals against average (0.64) and saves (290).
The Billikens were picked as the favorites to win the Atlantic 10 once again this season, after posting an 19-3-2 overall record while capturing their fifth A-10 regular season crown in the last six years a season ago.
Head coach Katie Shields is in her 12th season at the helm and owns a 153-59-16 overall record at Saint Louis.
Series History Against The Billikens
Creighton and Saint Louis have met just three times in program history, with the Billikens holding a 3-0-0 lead in the series.
Saint Louis picked up a 2-0 win over the Bluejays in first ever meeting in 2000 and a 2-1 double-overtime victory during the 2001 season. The two teams met last season in Saint Louis with the Billikens claiming a 4-1 win in the Bluejays first road match of the year.
Head coach Jimmy Walker is 0-2-0 all-time against Saint Louis as a head coach with both meetings being played while serving as the head coach at Duquesne.
Socctoberfest Success
Friday's match against Saint Louis marks
Creighton Women's Soccer 10th Annual Socctoberfest event, although it is the 12th Creighton Socctoberfest event.
The Bluejays are an impressive 6-1-2 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 battled Minnesota to a 0-0 scoreless draw 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 (6-1-2)
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
9/8/23 Minnesota T, 0-0 1072
Bluejays All-Time vs. Top 25 Competition
Facing off against #19 Saint Louis on Friday, Creighton will be seeking its first win over a ranked opponent since defeating #12 Wisconsin, 1-0, back on Sept. 3, 1994.
Including setbacks to #17 Georgetown (1-0) and #20 Xavier (1-0) last season, the Bluejays have faced a ranked opposition 26 times and hold a 1-21-4 overall record. Head coach Jimmy Walker is 0-5-2 all-time against ranked opponents at the Division I level, with all seven matches taking place while at Bowling Green State.
Date Opponent Result
10/27/90 at #20 Central Florida T, 1-1 (ot)
9/28/91 #1 North Carolina L, 1-9
10/2/92 #1 North Carolina L, 0-4
9/3/94 #12 Wisconsin W, 1-0
10/30/94 #7 at Cincinnati L, 4-5 (ot)
11/15/02 % at #6 Santa Clara L, 1-5
11/12/04 % at #8 Kansas L, 1-3
8/26/05 #25 Wisconsin L, 0-2
11/16/07 % vs. #9 USC L, 0-3
9/2/11 #5 Oklahoma State L, 0-1
8/26/12 at #4 Oklahoma State L, 1-4
10/20/13 * at #15 Georgetown L, 0-4
10/11/14 * at #13 DePaul L, 0-2
10/19/14 * #25 Georgetown L, 0-1
10/28/16 * #10 Georgetown L, 0-3
10/5/17 * at #12 Georgetown T, 1-1 (2ot)
10/19/17 * #22 Butler L, 0-3
9/14/18 #20 Oklahoma State L, 0-2
10/4/18 * #5 Georgetown L, 1-7
10/13/19 * at #10 Georgetown T, 2-2 (2ot)
4/16/21 & vs. #10 Georgetown L, 1-2 (ot)
9/23/21 * #25 Georgetown T, 1-1 (2ot)
9/25/22 * at #23 Georgetown L, 0-4
11/3/22 & vs. 18 Georgetown L, 0-1
9/24/23 * #17 Georgetown L, 0-1
10/22/23 * #20 Xavier L, 0-1
* BIG EAST regular-season match
& BIG EAST Tournament match
% NCAA Tournament
Home matches in bold
Largest Crowds in Bluejay History
With Creighton men's and women's soccer hosting its annual Socctoberfest match on Friday night, the Bluejays are expecting a large crowd to fill the bleacher against nationally ranked Saint Louis.
Three of the top-11 largest crowds have been 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. In addition, seven of the top-11 largest crowds have come since the Bluejays made the move to the BIG EAST in 2013, including opening last season with the third largest crowd in program history (1,834, vs. Nebraska)
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 ranked 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
Home Sweet Home
Creighton opened the home portion of their schedule with a 3-0 shutout last Thursday against Western Michigan and now own a 114-61-27 (.631) all-time at Morrison Stadium.
Including this year's win over the Broncos, the Bluejays are now 22-9-5 all-time in home-openers, which includes an 13-5-4 mark during home-openers at Morrison Stadium.
In addition to Creighton owning a 114-61-27 overall record at home, the Bluejays also hold a 52-36-12 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
Azumi Scoring at a Fast Pace
Senior Azumi Manriki has been nothing short of fantastic through the first four matches of the season. The Hiroshima, Japan native paces the Bluejays with three goals this season, scoring in each of the Jays first three matches.
Manriki became the first Bluejay since Toch Ihemelu in 2006 to score in each of the first three matches of a season.
Scoring First Yields Success
Through the first four matches of the season, Creighton is 1-1-0 when scoring first, but also 1-1-0 when the opponent scores first. Additionally, the Bluejays are 1-1-0 when leading at the break and 1-1-0 when trailing at halftime.
Last season Creighton finished the season with 2-1-2 record with scoring first, but 2-8-1 when the opponent scores first.
Despite starting 1-1-0 this season, Creighton has had incredible success when netting the first goal of the match since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.
Since the start of the 2013 season, the Bluejays own a 62-12-12 record when finding the back of the net first, but a 19-77-8 mark when the opponent scores first and a 0-0-7 in scoreless draws.
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 four matches this season, Creighton has racked up 78 fouls and a total of 10 yellow cards. The Bluejays 19.50 fouls per game currently leads the country for fouls per contest, while the 10 yellows are tied for the fifth most in the nation.
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 274-23-12 all-time record when scoring two or more goals in a match, including a 2-1-0 record this season. On the flip side, the Bluejays are 46-248-52 when being held to fewer than two goals.
Additionally, the Bluejays are 67-8-3 when scoring two or more goals, but 14-81-24 when netting fewer than two goals since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.
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, before battling Western Michigan and Nebraska last week. Combined, the four opponents Creighton has played this season are 8-3-3 against opponents that are not Creighton.
With a 2-2-0 record this season, Creighton still has a tough road to navigate as their future opponents have a combined record of 28-19-13 through three weeks of play.
Team (2023 RPI Rank) W-L-T (8/27) CU's Result
Minnesota (83) 4-0-0 L, 1-2
Iowa State (168) 2-2-1 W, 2-1
Western Michigan (87) 2-1-2 W, 3-0
Nebraska (20) 2-2-0 L, 2-5
Saint Louis (10) 2-1-2 -
Kansas City (237) 3-0-2 -
Georgetown (12) 3-0-1 -
Villanova (205) 3-2-0 -
Marquette (131) 1-4-1 -
Xavier (27) 5-0-1 -
UConn (49) 2-1-1 -
Providence (54) 2-2-1 -
DePaul (147) 0-4-1 -
Seton Hall (166) 2-3-1 -
Butler (118) 3-1-1 -
St. John's (65) 2-1-1 -
