Creighton University Athletics
Creighton University
Colorado College
Women's Soccer Opens 2026 Season in Rocky Mountains Against Colorado College and Air Force
8/10/2026 3:58:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Game #1: Creighton Bluejays at Colorado College Tigers
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026 • 7:00 p.m. • Colorado Springs, Colo. • Stewart Field
| LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES
Game #2: Creighton Bluejays at Air Force Falcons
Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026 • 1:00 p.m. • USAFA, Colo. • Cadet Soccer Stadium
| LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES
Up Next
Creighton opens the 2026 regular-season this week with a pair of contests in the Rocky Mountains.
Head coach Jimmy Walker's third season on the Hilltop begins on Wednesday, Aug. 12 when the Bluejays meet Colorado College on Stewart Field at 7 p.m. in Colorado Springs.
CU will then travel to the USAF Academy to battle Air Force on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. Central in the Cadet Soccer Stadium.
Follow the Match
Both matches this week at Colorado College and Air Force will be broadcasted live on the Mountain West Network+.
Live stats for Wednesday's match at Colorado College will be available through Sidearm stats, while Sunday's match against Air Force will feature live stats via Statbroadcast.
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
Following a season that saw Creighton qualify for the BIG EAST Tournament for a second straight season, the 2026 Bluejays will be put to the test as they try to replace a talented senior class that elevated the program and expectations to new heights.
Head coach Jimmy Walker will turn to his core nucleus and 17 underclassmen to continue to build upon the program's most successful back-to-back seasons in over a decade, as the Bluejays went 7-8-4 last season, finishing fourth in the BIG EAST with a 4-3-3 record.
Spearheading the Bluejays in the attacking third this fall are sophomore Jalen Chaney and junior Anna Bragg. Chaney was limited to just 13 matches in 2025 but finished her rookie campaign ranked second on the team with four goals and three assists, while Bragg netted four goals and made major strides in her development last season.
Other contributors who are back are seniors Olivia Duray and Tejia Murray-Powell. Duray appeared in all 19 matches a season ago, recording three assists and a goal, while Murray-Powell logged an assist in more than 1,400 minutes of action.
Defensively, the Bluejays will turn to sophomore Olivia Sides and senior Clara Kulick to fill the void along the back line after combining for two goals and five assists in more than 2,500 minutes of action a season ago.
Three other veterans who transferred into the program in 2026 will also fight for additional playing time. Junior Macy Felton was a frequent flyer in the midfield rotation the last two seasons at South Florida, while junior goalkeeper Morgan Paley will look to showcase her skills following two years at Oklahoma. Sophomore Taylor Yablonski also transferred in and looks to make an immediate impact after one season at Nebraska.
Creighton was picked to finish fourth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll as Jimmy Walker enters his 19th season with a 191-110-32 career record.
Scouting Colorado College (0-0-0)
Colorado College went 5-6-7 last season, finishing 2-3-5 in the Mountain West Conference. The Tigers return 10 players who started at least eight matches last fall and are picked fifth in the preseason Mountain West Conference Coaches' Poll.
Leading those returning starters are Preseason All-Mountain West picks Kendall Memoly and Lily Smith. Memoly netted a team-high six goals, including four game-winners, while Smith anchored the Tigers back line logging a team-best 1,596 minutes and helped record six shutouts.
Also back is sophomore Finlay Schoenbeck, who dished out a team-high three assists and ranked second on the team with four goals in her rookie campaign a season ago.
Anchoring the Tigers in goal is starting goalkeeper Regan Wallace, who snared 81 saves and posted a 1.13 goals against average with six shutouts a season ago.
Head Coach Keri Sanchez is in her fifth season at the helm and owns a 23-35-17 overall record at Colorado College.
Series History Against The Tigers
Colorado College owns a 6-2-2 lead in the all-time series against Creighton, including a 5-0-1 mark in matches played in Colorado Springs.
Creighton and Colorado College played nine of their 10 all-time meetings prior to 2003 with the Jays' lone win during that time coming via a 1-0 shutout in 1993.
In the most recent meeting in 2022, Creighton used goals from Jenny Grissom and Lara Kazandjian to lead CU to 2-1 Socctoberfest victory over the Tigers.
Jimmy Walker has never faced Colorado College or Keri Sanchez as a head coach.
Scouting Air Force (0-0-0)
The United States Air Force Academy went 8-7-4 last season, finishing second in the Mountain West Conference with a 6-2-2 record, the program's best regular-season conference finish since 1995.
The Falcons are back at full strength with nine starters, including its goalkeeper, returning to the lineup this season, led by Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year Annika Jost and All-MW Preseason Watch List selections Ava Carpentier and Jordan Dillingham.
Jost returns after a breakout sophomore season that saw her earn Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors. The midfielder started all 18 matches last fall, recording 10 goals and four assists while becoming the first player in program history to earn CSC Academic All-America recognition.
Carpentier was a steady force on the Falcons' back line, logging 1,049 minutes of action in 14 starts last season, while Dillingham has anchored the Air Force defense throughout her career logging 2,524 career minutes.
Trishelle Lopez will anchor the Falcons in goal once again this season after snaring 55 saves and recording a 1.50 goals against average with two shutouts in 15 starts last season.
Air Force was picked to win the Mountain West Conference in the Preseason Coaches' poll as head coach Laura Busby enters her fifth season with a 26-33-14 overall record at the helm.
Series History Against The Falcons
Creighton and Air Force have met three times previously with the Falcons holding a 2-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 1-1 mark in Colorado.
The two squads first met in 1997 with CU claiming a 2-1 win in Colorado. Two years later the Falcons shutout the Bluejays 1-0 in Omaha.
Air Force won the most recent meeting, capturing a 3-0 win over the Bluejays back on Aug. 24, 2018 in the Rocky Mountains.
Head coach Jimmy Walker has never coached against Air Force and/or Laura Busby.
Season-Opener History
Creighton is 17-16-4 in season-opening matches, following a 4-1 loss at Oklahoma last season in the Norman, Okla.
Since joining the BIG EAST in 2013, Creighton is 5-6-2 in season-openers, including an 0-2-0 mark under head coach Jimmy Walker.
The Bluejays, however, have outscored foes by an average of 1.49 (55 Goals) to 1.43 (53 Goals) goals per game in the Jays' 37 season-openers.
Walker is 8-9-1 all-time in season-openers, including a 3-6-1 mark at the Division I level.
Date School Opponent Result
9/10/97 Tiffin at Ashland L, 0-4
8/29/98 Tiffin Houghton College L, 0-8
9/2/99 Tiffin Trine W, 8-0
8/30/00 Tiffin Saginaw Valley W, 2-1 (ot)
8/28/01 Tiffin at Notre Dame College W, 8-0
9/7/02 Tiffin at Milligan L, 2-4
8/29/03 Duquesne vs. Howard W, 2-1
8/27/04 Duquesne at Bowling Green L, 3-7
8/28/05 Duquesne vs. Jacksonville W, 5-2
8/25/06 Duquesne at Vermont T, 1-1
8/30/18 Findlay Urbana W, 1-0
9/8/19 Findlay Northwood W, 2-1
3/4/21 BGSU at Akron W, 3-0
8/19/21 BGSU at Notre Dame L, 1-3
8/18/22 BGSU Michigan State L, 0-2
8/20/23 BGSU at #17 Michigan State L, 1-3
8/15/24 CU at Minnesota L, 1-2
8/14/25 CU at Oklahoma L, 1-4
Making an Opening Statement
Despite owning a 17-16-4 record in season-openers, Creighton has outscored its opponents 55-53 in its 37 season-opening contests.
In the Bluejays' 21 season-opening victories and ties, they have averaged an impressive 2.29 goals per game, which includes multiple goals on 14 different occasions. In addition, Creighton has posted 12 shutouts and limited its opponents to just 16 goals (0.76 goals per game) in those 21 contests.
CU, however, has only averaged 0.44 goals per match and has allowed 2.31 goals per contest during it 16 season-opening losses.
Season-Opener Goal Differential
Goals Scored Goals Allowed
Overall 55 (1.49) 53 (1.43)
Wins/Ties 48 (2.29) 16 (0.76)
Losses 7 (0.44) 37 (2.31)
Bluejay History in First Road Match of Season
Creighton's 2026 regular-season opener against Colorado College on Wednesday, Aug. 12 marks the third straight season the Bluejays have opened the season on the road.
CU has not had the greatest success in its first road match of the season, owning a 14-20-2 mark all-time in road openers, including an 0-2 mark under head coach Jimmy Walker.
Of note, the Bluejays have not won its road opener since posting a 2-1 win at Kansas City in 2019 and has not won a season opener on the road since downing South Dakota State, 3-2, in 2014.
It Gets Earlier Every Year
Wednesday's match against Colorado College will take place on Aug. 12, the earlies start date for a season-opener in Creighton women's soccer history.
The previous earliest date ever came last season when the Bluejays dropped a 4-1 decision to Oklahoma on Aug. 14, 2025.
By comparison, Creighton's season-opener in 1998 didn't take place until Sept. 2.
Production Returns
Creighton returns 13 of its 25 letterwinners but just four regular starters to the pitch from last season's team that finished 7-8-4 and finished fourth in the BIG EAST with a 4-3-3 league record.
All told, CU returns 33.0 percent of its starts, 34.2 percent of its minutes, 44.8 percent of its goals, 46.4 percent of its assists, 45.3 percent of its points, 29.3 percent of its shots, but return none of its saves off of last year's squad.
Below is a breakdown of the production that is back:
Stat Returners Departures
Starts 69 (33.0%) 140 (67.0%)
Minutes 6,419 (34.2%) 12,335 (65.8%)
Goals 13 (44.8%) 16 (55.2%)
Assists 13 (46.4%) 15 (53.6%)
Points 39 (45.3%) 47 (54.7%)
Shots 61 (29.3%) 147 (70.7%)
Saves 0 (0.0%) 59 (100%)
Some Fab Freshmen
Creighton has started 26 different true freshmen in its season opener since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.
Since joining the league prior to the 2013 season, the only true freshmen to start CU's season-opener have been Emily Roll (2013), Ylenia Sachau (2013), Danielle Rice (2013), McKynzie Dickman (2014), Emma Braasch (2015), Erin Scott (2015), Taryn Jakubowski (2016), Caeley Lordemann (2016), Jaylin Bosak (2016), Keelie Fothergill (2017), Ansley Atkinson (2018), Michaela Weist (2018), Aline Reinkober (2018), Skylar Heinrich (2019), Lea Høiness (2019), Daphne Nierop (2019), Anna Grassinger (2019), Abigail Santana (2020), Peighton Steffen (2020), Nicole Tiller (2020), Maddie Radke (2020), Greta Betz (2021), Shani Sirota (2023), Maia Sirota (2023), Josie Holt (2025) and Olivia Sides (2025) with Rice and Scott the only freshmen to start at goalkeeper in the season-opener.
Four of those women (Jakubowski, Atkinson, Heinrich and Radke) went on to land a spot on the BIG EAST's All-Freshman Team, with Heinrich claimed Second Team All-BIG EAST in 2019.
Drawing First Blood
Scoring first in soccer has its advantages and that has proved to be the difference for the Bluejays over the last decade.
Last fall, Creighton went 5-0-1 when scoring first, but 2-8-3 when the opponent found the back of the net first, with CU's two wins coming against Omaha (Sept. 10) and DePaul (Oct. 18).
In addition, CU had tremendous success when taking a lead into the break as the Bluejays were 4-0-1 when leading at halftime, but 2-2-2 when trailing and 1-6-1 when tied at the break last season.
Since joining the BIG EAST in 2013, Creighton owns a 73-13-14 when finding the back of the net first. However, the Bluejays are 21-89-11 when the opponent scores first and 0-0-8 in scoreless draws.
Category 2025 Walker Era
Creighton scores first 5-0-1 12-2-2
Opponent scores first 2-8-3 3-12-3
Scoreless ties 0-0-0 0-0-1
Scores 1 Goal 1-3-2 4-5-2
Scores 2 Goals 2-0-0 5-1-1
Scores 3+ Goals 4-0-2 6-0-2
Opponent Scores 1 Goal 2-3-2 6-4-2
Opponent Scores 2 Goals 1-3-0 1-7-1
Opponent Scores 3+ Goals 0-2-2 0-3-2
Leading at halftime 4-0-1 8-1-2
Trailing at halftime 2-2-2 3-5-2
Tied at halftime 1-6-1 4-9-2
Bluejay Defense is the Key
Defense has been a focal point for Creighton over the past decade and with that the Bluejays have developed a pattern that has led the Jays to success over the course of the last two years under head coach Jimmy Walker.
Since joining the BIG EAST in 2013, Creighton owns an impressive 81-27-26 record when holding its opponents to one goal or less, including a 14-5-3 mark under Walker.
Conversely, the Jays are 13-75-7 when allowing two or more goals, and 1-10-3 under Walker. The Bluejays lone under Walker when allowing two or more goals came last fall when the Jays rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Omaha on Sept. 10.
Creighton's Record When Allowing...
Year 1 or less goals 2 or more goals
2013 7-1-1 2-7-0
2014 8-2-2 2-4-0
2015 8-1-0 2-9-0
2016 6-1-2 3-5-0
2017 4-3-2 0-8-1
2018 6-1-1 0-9-0
2019 6-4-2 2-3-1
2020 4-2-0 0-4-0
2021 7-4-2 0-6-0
2022 8-1-8 0-3-0
2023 3-2-3 1-7-2
2024 8-2-1 0-5-1
2025 6-3-2 1-5-2
Totals 81-27-26 13-75-7
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 283-23-15 all-time record when scoring two or more goals in a match, which includes a 6-0-2 record from last season. On the flip side, the Bluejays are 47-261-53 when being held to fewer than two goals.
Additionally, the Bluejays are 76-8-6 when scoring two or more goals and 15-94-25 when netting fewer than two goals since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.
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.
In 19 matches last season, Creighton racked up 227 fouls and a total of 27 yellow cards. The Bluejays' 11.95 fouls per game were tied for the 15th-most in the country, while its 27 yellow cards were tied for the 12th-most in the NCAA last year.
CU's 27 yellow cards last fall were the second-most in a single season since at least 2000, trailing only the 29 yellow cards in 2024. By comparison, the Bluejays were booked for just six yellow cards and ranked 301st out of 335 DI teams in 2021.
During the Bluejays' 2-1 win over Kansas City on Aug. 17, Creighton was called for 26 fouls over the course of the match. The Bluejays 26 fouls were the third-most in a single match since 2003, trailing only the 30 fouls against Illinois State in 2003 and the 27 fouls against Iowa State in 2024.
On the flip side, Creighton played its cleanest match in over four years last year at No. 3 Duke. The Jays were whistled for just one foul in its match against the Blue Devils, its fewest fouls in a match since also be called for one foul against St. John's back on Oct. 24, 2021.
CU Fouls Per Game and Yellow Cards
Year FPG Yellow Cards
2025 11.95 (T-15th) 27 (T-12th)
2024 15.18 (1st) 29 (T-12th)
2023 11.28 (33rd) 12 (209th)
2022 9.85 (118th) 9 (278th)
2021 9.17 (169th) 6 (301st)
2020 10.70 (48th) 4 (215th)
2019 11.56 (39th) 17 (41st)
2018 8.94 (171st) 10 (155th)
Coast to Coast
Creighton travels all over the country to find players to come to Omaha, Nebraska to play collegiate soccer.
This season, head coach Jimmy Walker has put together a more robust team with players hailing from 14 different US states and one coming internationally from Canada.
Last season, CU was represented by five different countries, including 22 players from 13 different US states.
Creighton's 2026 Roster by State
California (1): Lorel Stringer
Colorado (1): Clara Kulick
Georgia (1): Kassey Dzenis
Illinois (1): Olivia Duray
Indiana (1): Grace Mann
Minnesota (1): Sarah Hyde
Nebraska (5): Adeline Bosiljevac, Anna Bragg, Blu Keiper, Kennedy Moore, Gabby Wagenfuhr
New Hampshire (1): Kailey Hall
Ohio (2): Macy Felton, Whitney Scott
Tennessee (1): Josie Holt
Texas (5): Jalen Chaney, Cassidy Horton, Morgan Paley, Allison Williams, Taylor Yablonski
Washington (1): Olivia Sides
Wisconsin (2): Aubrey Lane, Ella Luna
International (1):
Canada (1): Tejia Murray-Powell
Leading the Ship
Fifth-year Kailey Hall, seniors Clara Kulick and Tejia Murray-Powell, juniors Anna Bragg and Macy Felton, sophomore Olivia Sides and freshman Kassey Dzenis were selected to the coaches leadership group for the 2026 season.
All seven individuals are representing the team in a leadership role for the first time in their Bluejay careers.
Creighton Picked Fourth In BIG EAST Preseason Poll
Coming off its second consecutive BIG EAST Tournament appearance, the Creighton women's soccer team was picked fourth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Monday, Aug. 3.
Creighton's preseason prognosis of fourth place is its highest preseason pick since joining the BIG EAST prior to the 2013 season. In the previous 13 seasons in the league, Creighton has improved its preseason ranking six times, been ranked correctly five times, and dropped from preseason expectations just twice.
The Bluejays earned 73 points in the preseason coaches' poll to place fourth, five points behind third place finisher Xavier. The Jays' went 7-8-4 and finished fourth in the BIG EAST last season, before bowing out of the postseason in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament. The squad returns six regular starters and has 17 underclassmen to continue to build upon the programs most successful two year stretch in over a decade.
Defending BIG EAST regular-season champion Georgetown claimed the top spot with 98 points, including eighth first-place votes. UConn tallied two first-place votes and a total of 89 points to place second, while Xavier captured the remaining first-place vote and 78 points to finish third. Creighton followed closely behind with 73 points and a fourth-place finish, while Villanova (66) and Providence (60) closed out the top six. Marquette (40), Butler (39), St. John's (28), DePaul (15) and Seaton Hall (15) rounded out the bottom half of the poll in 2026.
The top four teams in the final league standings will qualify for the 2026 BIG EAST Championship Presented by JEEP. The semifinals on Nov. 11 (1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3) and title match on Nov. 14 will be played at the Maryland Soccer Complex in Boyds, Md.
BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank Team Points(First-place votes)
1. Georgetown 98 (8)
2. Connecticut 89 (2)
3. Xavier 78 (1)
4. Creighton 73
5. Villanova 66
6. Providence 60
7. Marquette 40
8. Butler 39
9. St. John's 28
10. DePaul 19
11. Seton Hall 15
Year Preseason Pick Finish Move
2013 9th 9th - -
2014 8th 7th Up 1
2015 8th 8th - -
2016 7th 7th - -
2017 8th 8th - -
2018 7th 7th - -
2019 9th 6th Up 3
2020 5th 3th Up 2
2021 5th 9th Down 4
2022 7th T-4th Up 3
2023 5th 10th Down 5
2024 7th 4th Up 3
2025 5th 4th Up 1
2026 4th ??? ???
Season Preview
Following a season that saw Creighton qualify for the BIG EAST Tournament for a second straight season, the 2026 Bluejays will be put to the test as they try to replace a talented senior class that elevated the program and expectations to new heights.
With All-BIG EAST selections Ariana Mondiri and Tori Gillis and strong anchors Abigail Santana, Ella Offer and Alyssa Zalac having all graduated, head coach Jimmy Walker will turn to his core nucleus and 17 underclassmen to continue to build upon the program's most successful back-to-back seasons in over a decade.
Despite losing a few core pieces, the 2026 roster remains talented with six players who have contributed and played significant time over the past three years.
Sophomore Jalen Chaney's first year on the Hilltop was a huge success. The forward was limited to just 13 contests but finished her freshman campaign ranked second on the team with four goals and three assists.
Chaney will be joined on the frontline by junior Anna Bragg, who netted four goals and made major strides this past spring to make a more pronouned impact this season.
Other threats to look out for in the midfield are seniors Olivia Duray and Tejia Murray-Powell. Duray appeared in all 19 matches, recording three assists and a goal in her first season after transferring in from Pitt, while Murray-Powell logged an assist and more than 1,400 minutes of action last fall.
Defensively, the Bluejays will turn to sophomore Olivia Sides and senior Clara Kulick to fill the void in the backline following the departures of Zalac, Offer and Solomon.
Sides and Kulick will have a more significant leadership role in 2026 after combining for two goals and five assists in more than 2,500 minutes of action a year ago. Sides started all 19 games, passing out a team-high four assists with one goal in 1,600 minutes of action, while Kulick collected a goal and an assist in 915 minutes of playing time last fall.
Three other veterans who transferred into the program in 2026 will also fight for addition playing time this season. Junior Macy Felton was a frequent flyer in the midfield rotation the last two seasons at South Florida, while junior goalkeeper Morgan Paley will look to showcase her skills following two years at Oklahoma. Sophomore Taylor Yablonski also transferred in and looks to make an immediate impact after one season at Nebraska.
Supplementing the veteran cast is nine talented true freshmen from all across the country.
Indiana product Grace Mann graduated from Norwell High School as the Northeast Indiana and program's all-time goal leader and looks to make a similar impact in her first season in Omaha.
Joining Mann in the fight for time in the midfield is Radleigh Childers, a Missouri native who scored more than 130 goals and was a four-time first team all-conference selection.
Elkhorn native Blu Keiper was a late addition to the Bluejay roster but aims to be a key contributor in the attacking third after netting 42 goals and dishing out 32 assists in her prep career at Elkhorn South.
In addition, Cassidy Horton (Dallas, Texas), Lorel Stringer (Irvine, Calif.) and Kassey Dzenis (Peachtree, Ga.) were all four-time all-conference honorees and will be itching for a chance to make a difference for the Bluejays this fall.
