[dropcap]The[/dropcap] Creighton women’s soccer team gave a strong effort with their backs against the wall on Senior Day, but ultimately fell short in a 1-0 loss to the 25th-ranked Georgetown Hoyas on Sunday afternoon at Morrison Stadium.
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With his team playing in its final home match of the season, and with a Big East Tournament bid still up for grabs, Creighton head coach Bruce Erickson challenged his team, specifically his four seniors, and they responded with one of their better performances, from an effort standpoint, of the entire season. “I thought our effort was great. We got outshot in the second half, but to outshoot a talented Georgetown team and have the corners be 2-1, you know you’re in a game for a couple different reasons,” Erickson said.
“I thought how we fought in particular was one. [Jessica] Mutters blocked shot at the end there on a sure goal by Daphne [Corboz], I mean those are the extra effort plays that if you put enough of those together in a game they ultimately get you results.”
After some back and forth play in the midfield during the first few minutes Creighton started to create opportunities in the attacking third. In the 10th minute they got their first corner kick of the match and it led to a pair of shots by senior, and three-year team captain, Madelyn Buckner. Her first shot, a header, was blocked by a Hoya defender, so she chased down the deflection and played a ball just over the cross bar.
Sophomore Lauren Sullivan produced a couple more scoring chances for the Bluejays in the 25th and 28th minute. The first was a right-footed cross to the right flank where Alissa Kohmetscher was making a run towards the box. Kohmetscher put a quick touch on the ball, but it was just wide of the near post. A few minutes later Sullivan drove the ball into the 18′, flicked it over an approaching Georgetown defender, and sent a shot wide to the far post.
The Bluejays’ best chance to get one into the back of the net came in the 38th minute of a still scoreless match. After a Georgetown foul, Creighton ensuing free kick found Buckner again, who put a sharp header on it, directly on frame, but Hoyas goalkeeper Emma Newins made a brilliant read to stop the shot and turn away the Creighton attack once again.
The match remained scoreless going into halftime, but the Bluejays held an 8-2 advantage in shots as well as a 2-1 edge in shots on goal in the first 45 minutes.
Early in the second half, the Hoyas’ attack turned it up a notch and starting getting some opportunities against Creighton’s back line. Six minutes into the period a free kick from the left flank almost led to an own goal if not for a quick recovery by Bluejay goalkeeper Danielle Rice to keep the match scoreless.
It didn’t stay that way for long, however, as Jessie Clinton served a perfect ball in from the left flank to an open Audra Ayotte, who played it with her left foot and sent it far post past Rice to give the Hoyas a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute. “It was a good sequence in transition where we weren’t quite quick enough,” said Erickson. “The left back got a nice serve in and the kid got a really good goal.”
That proved to be enough for the Hoyas (10-3-3, 5-1-1) to get out of Morrison Stadium with a win, which helped them clinch a spot in the Big East Tournament in New York.
The loss for Creighton dropped them to 9-6-1 overall on the season, and 1-5-1 in conference play, which combined with Providence’s 1-0 win at then league-leading St. John’s as well as Villanova scoreless draw with Seton Hall eliminated the Bluejays from contention for a spot in the league tournament in early November.
Given the quality of the opponent and the level the Jays played at, senior co-captains Madelyn Buckner and Angela Benson spoke positively of their final home match. “I thought we played with a lot of heart and that’s what I’m most proud of my team for today,” said Buckner. “It was a little overwhelming in the beginning, but it was a good way to end it, and it was good to see so many people supporting me in the stands. I think that was the best way to end it.”
Benson echoed that sentiment and considered herself fortunate to have been given the opportunity, “I’m just so thankful for all the support. I’m so grateful for all of the people that I’ve been able to meet through soccer. Just everything. I thank God for that everyday.”
Though his team struggled down the stretch and fell short of its goal of reaching the Big East Tournament, Coach Erickson spoke highly of his seniors after their last match at Morrison Stadium. “‘Buck’ and ‘Ang’ I don’ t think had anything left [after today]. We pulled ‘Buck’ late simply because the demands of the game were significant on her, having to track the best player in the league. That was quality. She was good. I challenged them before the game and said, ‘listen, this is your last home game, so how hard are you willing to play?’
“They all played hard.”
Eliminated from the postseason and with two road games remaining in the regular season at Butler on Oct. 25 and at Xavier on Oct. 31, Angela Benson answered directly when asked what the team has left to play for — “each other.”
