Four times during non-conference play the Creighton women’s soccer team allowed game-deciding goals in the 84th minute or later. Entering Saturday night’s conference opener against Illinois State, the Jays (3-7-2, 0-1-0) had been outscored 6-0 in the 78th minute or later this season. That trend continued Saturday night as Illinois State’s superstar sophomore Rachel Tejada got behind Creighton’s back four in the 89th minute and lofted the game-winning goal over goalkeeper Katie Jo Swanson’s head. The goal gave the Redbirds (7-3-2, 1-1-0) a 2-1 lead, and left Creighton very little time to do anything about it.
Like most of the matches Creighton has played this season, the Jays came out and established themselves as the aggressor early on. They put pressure on the Redbird defense in the first 15 minutes with a couple of great scoring chances. The first came on a crossing pass from forward Kelsey O’Donnell. The junior captain found forward Lauren Cingoranelli open in front of the goal. Cingoranelli’s shot was stopped as Redbird senior keeper Mara Kremenovic dove and held onto the ball as CU midfielder Stephanie Anasi approached for the rebound opportunity. Creighton’s second early scoring chance failed to produce as well when senior forward Brittney Neumann just missed a back-footed flick in front of the net on a corner kick by freshman defender Jill Richgels.
Illinois State, however, capitalized early on one of their few first half scoring chances when senior forward Rachel Bostick softly headed a crossing pass from fellow forward Gabbi McArtor past Swanson to give ISU a 1-0 lead in 16th minute of action.
“That’s a goal we have to make a save on. It was slow-developing, and the ball sort of just found its way in the goal,” said Creighton head coach Bruce Erickson, talking about the goal after the game.
It did not take long for Creighton to respond as just two and a half minutes later senior forward Brittney Neumann found space in Illinois State’s backfield. Although outnumbered three to one on the play, she took two dribbles and fired a shot into the back of the goal from 30 yards out. Her team-leading fifth goal of the season tied the score at one in the 18th minute.
“That goal felt really good. I thought I was offsides at first — I didn’t see the girl behind me, and so I was a little shocked. She was backing up, and I saw my opportunity,” said Neumann.
Creighton’s senior star wasn’t done attacking in the first half. In the 24th minute she was open around 20 yards out, but her teammates couldn’t find her before the ball was cleared out. Later, a cross from Cingoranelli was on its way to Neumann, but Illinois State defender Kristin Cooley recovered to intercept the pass. Another Cingoranelli setup found Neumann, but a Redbird defender blocked her shot in front of the goal.
The scoring opportunities evened out in the second half, but neither team was able to untie the game until the 89th minute when Tejada, one of the nation’s most prolific scorers, got behind the Bluejay backfield and won a race to the ball with Swanson, who left the goal to clear the ball. Tejada softly kicked it over Swanson and it rolled into the goal, breaking the one-all tie and Creighton’s hearts in the game’s final moments.
While Creighton again outplayed their opponent, the result is another defeat due to a late-game lapse.
“We have to make plays. We out-cornered these guys tonight, and we had better chances. I thought both of their goals were on routine plays. We just conceded two very soft goals like that and win games, and we squandered too many chances. It’s difficult to swallow because I thought were the better team. I thought we played better, and the end result is the made two more plays than us,” said Erickson about the loss.
Senior defender Gabriela Guillen agreed with her head coach’s comment.
“Honestly, I think we were the better team in the first half. It was a little more even in the second half, but we still played well. It was just bad luck at the end — a miscommunication between our back four and our goalkeeper,” she said.
Creighton will now prepare for clash against Indiana State on October 5, in Terra Haute, Indiana. The Jays will next play at home October 11, at 7 p.m. against Drake at Morrison Stadium.
Game Notes: Illinois State improved to 6-1-1 against the Jays under head coach Drew Roff… Sophomore Rachel Tejada’s goal in the 89th minute was her 11th of the season. She entered the week ranked fifth nationally in goals scored… Creighton senior Brittney Neumann’s first half goal was the 29th of her career. She is now just one back of Kalan Malone on the school’s all-time list… Tonight’s attendance was 468.