Photo by: Justin Kreutzian
Women’s Soccer Opens 2025 Season with First Official Practice
7/29/2025 3:29:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Bluejays start regular-season Aug. 14 at Oklahoma
OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton Women's Soccer officially kicked off the 2025 season on Tuesday, July 29 with its first team practices. Braving temperatures in the upper 90's, the Bluejays returned to the pitch for nearly three hours on opening day as they began preparation for one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country.
The Bluejays begin its ambitious competition schedule on Saturday, Aug. 2 in Sioux Falls, S.D. for a neutral site exhibition match against North Dakota State (2:30 p.m.).
2025 Season Outlook
Expectations are high for the 2025 Creighton women's soccer team, as the Bluejays are coming off the program's most
successful seasons in nearly a decade under the direction of second year head coach Jimmy Walker.
With the return of eight players who started at least four matches from an eight-win team, including an All-BIG EAST selection, the sky's the limit for a squad that finished fourth in the BIG EAST and hosted a postseason match for the first time since joining the league in 2013.
It is with that foundation set and 13 letterwinners returning that the 2025 version of Creighton women's soccer aims to become the first to reach the NCAA postseason since 2010.
Defense
If defense wins championships, the Bluejays have what it takes to compete for one in 2025, with a solid backline and a talented goalkeeper returning to the pitch.
Defensively the Bluejays allowed 1.24 goals per match last season, posting five shutouts and surrendering one goal on six additional occasions. With a wealth of experience returning, CU is in prime position to increase its continuity along the Bluejays backline.
Ella Offer and Savanna Solomon anchor the defensive unit for the Bluejays, logging more than 2,600 minutes of action last season. Offer started all 17 matches, playing 1,492 minutes, while Solomon started in 14 matches.
Clara Kulick and Reese Carpenter are another pair of defensive forces that are expected to take a step forward into a larger role this fall. Also in contention for playing time are incoming freshmen Kennedy Moore and Josie Holt.
Goalkeepers
Senior Alyssa Zalac is expected to lead Creighton's defense in her second season as the starting goalkeeper. The Montreal, Canada native impressed during her first season with the Bluejays, starting all 17 matches and posting five shutouts with a 1.24 goals against average.
Two other Bluejays will push Zalac for time as Kailey Hall returns for her fourth season and true freshman Madison London arrives after a successful prep career in Canada.
Midfielders/Forwards
Offensively, Creighton must replace over half of its scoring from 2024 as Azumi Manriki graduated and Lara Kazandjian and Stella Downing each signed professionally after combining for 11 goals and three assists as seniors. Maddie Radke and Alyssa Judkins are also gone after starting a combined 86 contests and tallying seven goals and 10 assists in four seasons as Bluejays.
However, three players return who scored at least one goal a season ago and Walker reloaded with an impressive signing class of transfers and incoming freshman.
Second Team All-BIG EAST selection Ariana Mondiri leads the way after recorded a team-high five goals, including three game-winners, and an assist last fall. Sophomore Anna Bragg is also expected to be a key contributor along the front line, netting two goals in her first season as a Bluejay.
Another threat to look out for is Abigail Santana, who is returning to the pitch after missing last season with a knee injury. The sixth-year senior has contributed in the past, netting 14 goals and dishing out eight assists in her career.
Other candidates to play along the Bluejays front line include transfers Brynn Garnder (Bowling Green), Tori Gillis (LSU) and Olivia Duray (Pittsburgh), as well as incoming freshman Jalen Chaney.
The Schedule
Walker has once again put together an ambitious schedule with his non-conference slate ranking amongst the toughest in the country. The Bluejays open the 2025 season on the road at Oklahoma and Kansas City before returning home for the second annual "Tea Cup" match against Iowa State.
A match at Western Michigan predates a monster matchup against 2024 national semifinalist Duke in Durham, before home contests against Arkansas, Omaha and South Dakota close out non-conference play.
In total, the Bluejays will play eight regular-season matches at home, including conference contests against league frontrunners Georgetown and Xavier.
The Bluejays begin its ambitious competition schedule on Saturday, Aug. 2 in Sioux Falls, S.D. for a neutral site exhibition match against North Dakota State (2:30 p.m.).
2025 Season Outlook
Expectations are high for the 2025 Creighton women's soccer team, as the Bluejays are coming off the program's most
successful seasons in nearly a decade under the direction of second year head coach Jimmy Walker.
With the return of eight players who started at least four matches from an eight-win team, including an All-BIG EAST selection, the sky's the limit for a squad that finished fourth in the BIG EAST and hosted a postseason match for the first time since joining the league in 2013.
It is with that foundation set and 13 letterwinners returning that the 2025 version of Creighton women's soccer aims to become the first to reach the NCAA postseason since 2010.
Defense
If defense wins championships, the Bluejays have what it takes to compete for one in 2025, with a solid backline and a talented goalkeeper returning to the pitch.
Defensively the Bluejays allowed 1.24 goals per match last season, posting five shutouts and surrendering one goal on six additional occasions. With a wealth of experience returning, CU is in prime position to increase its continuity along the Bluejays backline.
Ella Offer and Savanna Solomon anchor the defensive unit for the Bluejays, logging more than 2,600 minutes of action last season. Offer started all 17 matches, playing 1,492 minutes, while Solomon started in 14 matches.
Clara Kulick and Reese Carpenter are another pair of defensive forces that are expected to take a step forward into a larger role this fall. Also in contention for playing time are incoming freshmen Kennedy Moore and Josie Holt.
Goalkeepers
Senior Alyssa Zalac is expected to lead Creighton's defense in her second season as the starting goalkeeper. The Montreal, Canada native impressed during her first season with the Bluejays, starting all 17 matches and posting five shutouts with a 1.24 goals against average.
Two other Bluejays will push Zalac for time as Kailey Hall returns for her fourth season and true freshman Madison London arrives after a successful prep career in Canada.
Midfielders/Forwards
Offensively, Creighton must replace over half of its scoring from 2024 as Azumi Manriki graduated and Lara Kazandjian and Stella Downing each signed professionally after combining for 11 goals and three assists as seniors. Maddie Radke and Alyssa Judkins are also gone after starting a combined 86 contests and tallying seven goals and 10 assists in four seasons as Bluejays.
However, three players return who scored at least one goal a season ago and Walker reloaded with an impressive signing class of transfers and incoming freshman.
Second Team All-BIG EAST selection Ariana Mondiri leads the way after recorded a team-high five goals, including three game-winners, and an assist last fall. Sophomore Anna Bragg is also expected to be a key contributor along the front line, netting two goals in her first season as a Bluejay.
Another threat to look out for is Abigail Santana, who is returning to the pitch after missing last season with a knee injury. The sixth-year senior has contributed in the past, netting 14 goals and dishing out eight assists in her career.
Other candidates to play along the Bluejays front line include transfers Brynn Garnder (Bowling Green), Tori Gillis (LSU) and Olivia Duray (Pittsburgh), as well as incoming freshman Jalen Chaney.
The Schedule
Walker has once again put together an ambitious schedule with his non-conference slate ranking amongst the toughest in the country. The Bluejays open the 2025 season on the road at Oklahoma and Kansas City before returning home for the second annual "Tea Cup" match against Iowa State.
A match at Western Michigan predates a monster matchup against 2024 national semifinalist Duke in Durham, before home contests against Arkansas, Omaha and South Dakota close out non-conference play.
In total, the Bluejays will play eight regular-season matches at home, including conference contests against league frontrunners Georgetown and Xavier.
Players Mentioned
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