The Creighton women’s soccer team had 11 days to sit on the momentum from their first win of the season on August 18 at Iowa State. They didn’t let the opportunity to build on it pass them by. The Bluejays handed Western Michigan a 3-0 defeat on Thursday afternoon in their home opener at the friendly confines of Morrison Stadium to improve their record to 2-1-0 in the fall. It’s the most goals CU has scored in a clean sheet in their home opener since 1998.
“We had those 10 days in between matches and we used it really well,” Creighton senior midfielder Marissa LeVine said. “We built up for the week off, and then we tapered just enough to use all our time to prepare for this game.
“I felt like it was an advantage, because we got to focus on one thing.”
The Bluejays nearly conceded off a goal kick in the first couple minutes, but Louisville transfer Alyssa Zalac and Xavier transfer Ella Offer made “heady” plays in the back end to keep the match scoreless. Off of a goal kick by her own keeper, Western Michigan senior forward Callie Cunningham found herself freed up on the ball in Creighton’s defensive third. Zalac reacted in time well off her line to impede Cunningham’s path to a clean shot and Offer backed up her keeper on the end line to head the ball away off the turf and away from the goal.
Creighton didn’t squander their first quality chance at a goal as redshirt senior forward Ariana Mondiri gave the home team a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute. Senior defender Maddie Radke was money as usual with the long ball service over the top of the Western Michigan back line. Mondiri raced to the ball, settled it, and snuck it between the legs of Western Michigan junior goalkeeper Ava Wilberding for the early lead.
UC Irvine transfer Marissa LeVine pushed the lead to 2-0 in the five and a half minutes later on an unassisted number from distance. After a handful of less than crisp sequences by each team, Creighton’s new midfielder took it upon herself in the 15th minute, dribbling through the defense and firing a pill from the outer edge of the 18-yard box for her first career college goal at either of her two schools.
“I saw the pattern build up very nicely, actually, and I felt it upon me to make that run out wide,” LeVine said. “Especially because [Mondiri] had done so much work to tuck in and provide that space. I made it an objective for myself and for my team to finish the chances we get in the box, because against tough component opponents we don’t get many of those chances, so we have to capitalize on all of them. I felt like it was a great reflection of everything we’ve been working on.”
Junior midfielder Azumi Manriki punctuated the match on a 25-yard free kick in the 76th minute. The third goal in as many matches to start the season for the budding star and All-Big East performer.
“She doesn’t know how good she is,” Walker said. “That’s the problem. You coach some players that are average that think they’re great — she’s as good of a player as I’ve ever coached, and she doesn’t know it. I said that to her at halftime. You might be the best player I’ve ever coached; you’ve really got to impact the game. Second half, she gets that one moment and she changes the game for us. She’s got that ability. If she keeps doing what she’s doing, she’ll be a pro.”
The Jays outshot the Mid-American Conference reigning regular season champions 11-8 on the afternoon.
Creighton will head back out on the road for their third match against a “Power 4” conference foe when the face in-state rival Nebraska on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Hibner Stadium in Lincoln. The Bluejays and Huskers battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Morrison Stadium on the opening day of the season last year. Nebraska returns 10 starters from last year’s Elite Eight squad.