The 2012 season was one the Creighton women’s soccer team would probably like to forget. The Jays limped through the season and compiled a disappointing 3-13-3 record, the worst in recent memory. Headed into next season, the Jays lose their leader and most decorated player, midfielder Brittany Neumann.
But there’s plenty of optimism on the Hilltop as Creighton gets ready to open a new chapter in its history. Two Bluejays, Kaelyn Korte and Jill Richgels, made last year’s MVC All-Freshman team. The team recently announced the addition of two transfers, who arrive just in time for the Jays to open their spring season. And, of course, excitement abounds as the club gets ready to open Big East play.
Perhaps luckily for coach Bruce Erickson and his team, the Bluejays will introduce themselves to a league that is competitive near the top and wide open just beneath. Marquette and Georgetown duked it out for last year’s Big East title, and are expected to do so again in 2013. Butler joins the league riding high, after finishing the best season in program history. We think the Jays have the tools to turn around their recent slide, and expect Creighton to post 4th place in their first Big East campaign.
Read more about CU’s new rivals, and then join the discussion in the comments below.
2012 Results: 12-5-4, 4th in Atlantic 10
Postseason: A-10 semifinals, second round
Head Coach: Tari St. John, eighth year
Twitter: @ButlerWSoccer
The Bulldogs join the new conference with high expectations, after a stellar 2012 season. Midfielder Sophia Maccagnone ended her rookie season by earning NSCAA All-Midwest honors, and will likely be one of the top midfielders in the Big East this year. Butler welcomes a strong recruiting class this year, including Japanese transfer Serena Kashimoto, who was the starting center back for Japan’s U-17 World Cup team. (The story of how Kashimoto wound up at Butler is an inspiring one. Read it here.) Entering its third conference in three years, Butler has the pieces to make a run for the league title in 2013.
2012 Results: 9-10-2, 6th in Big East National Division
Postseason: Big East Tournament, second round
Head Coach: Erin Chastain, seventh year
Twitter: @DePaulWSoccer
American soccer legend Brandi Chastain, sister-in-law of DePaul head coach Erin Chastain, visited Chicago this February to speak with the women’s soccer team about her experiences and to give some inspiration. DePaul will need that inspiration to forge ahead after a frustrating 2012 season. Senior defender and All-Big East third teamer Kylie Nordness returns to captain a devilish defense that allowed 0.86 goals per game last year. The Blue Demons have focused heavily on recruiting attackers this year, and bring in a strong class including Omaha Marian product Gini Yost. Sophomore forward Elise Wyatt earned a trial with the Canadian U-20 team and could be key to the Blue Demons’ success this year.
2012 Results: 16-4-3, 1st in Big East National Division
Postseason: Big East Championship runners-up, NCAA Tournament second round
Head Coach: Dave Nolan, tenth year
The Hoyas finished last season ranked 17th in the nation, and will probably start the coming season ranked even higher. First-team All-American Daphne Corboz returns for her third season of rocking the opposition, and Big East 2012 Coach of the Year Dave Nolan will doubtless build his squad around her. The Hoyas have their sights set high, having come so close to a Big East tournament championship last year. We anticipate another two-way battle between Georgetown and Marquette for the league title in 2013.
2012 Results: 18-2-3, 1st in Big East American Division
Postseason: Big East Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
Head Coach: Markus Roeders, eighteenth year
Twitter: @MUWomensSoccer
Marquette led the Big East last year in shots, goals, assists, goals-against, shutouts and wins. Their season ended in the Sweet Sixteen and with a final national ranking of #12. They’ll enter the new year with the most commitments of any Big East club from the IMG Academy 150. In short, it’s been a pretty good year for the Golden Eagles. Marquette is the current class of the conference, and we expect them to continue their dominance through their twentieth-anniversary season.
2012 Results: 8-9-1, 5th in Big East American Division
Postseason: did not compete
Head Coach: Jim McGirr, ninth year
Twitter: @PC_WomensSoccer
Providence is now in Year Two of full rebuilding mode. Twelve freshmen joined the program last year and nine more (plus a transfer) enter this year. They’ll be led by freshman forward Catherine Zimmerman, who was the only Friar to make last year’s Big East All-Freshman side. Keep an eye on the Friars — Providence may finish mid-table again this year as they struggle with inexperience, but they are building the foundation for a strong program down the road.
2012 Results: 7-12-0, 7th in Big East National Division
Postseason: did not compete
Head Coach: Kazbek Tambi, seventh year
Twitter: @SetonHallSoccer
With an all-time record of 132-156-25, Seton Hall really owns the title of “mediocre program.” The Pirates raced out to a 5-0 record in August, but hit a wall and went 2-10 to finish the season. The big news out of South Orange, N.J., (it’s near New York City, I looked it up) this winter is that sophomore midfielder D’Yonna Riley participated in the USWNT U-20 training camp this February, and hopes this year to improve upon a good rookie season.
2012 Results: 6-10-1, 7th in Big East American Division
Postseason: did not compete
Head Coach: Ian Stone, twentieth year
Twitter: @STJ_WSoccer
A quick glance at the stats shows that the Red Storm’s last-place finish in 2012 was the result of an anemic offense (0.94 conference goals scored average) combined with an absolutely sieve-like defense (2.08 conference goals against average, -21 season goal differential). Creighton boasts a 1-0-0 all-time record against the Red Storm (who could forget their most recent matchup, in October 1991? An instant classic, I tell you). St. John’s will be led by senior midfielder Amy Marron, who made the All-Big East Third Team last season.
2012 Results: 7-9-3, 4th in Big East National Division
Postseason: Big East Tournament first round
Head Coach: John Byford, sixth year
Twitter: @NovaWSoccer
For a Villanova team that lost only three games by more than one goal, goalkeeper Jami Kranich was absolutely vital. Kranich, a member of the U.S. U-23 national team and All-Big East First Team, returns for her senior season set on helping the Wildcats return to the success their program has typically enjoyed. VU holds the record for most all-time regular season wins and most all-time NCAA Tournament berths of any new Big East team. 2009 was the last winning season for the Wildcats, but things are looking up again this year in “Nova Nation.”
2012 Results: 6-12-1, 15th in Atlantic 10
Postseason: did not compete
Head Coach: Woody Sherwood, fourth year
Twitter: @XUSoccer
If last week’s 3-1 win over in-state rival Wright State can tell us anything, the Musketeers are X-cited (groan, sorry, etc.) about incoming freshman Tori Doss, who scored all three of Xavier’s goals in her first ever collegiate appearance. Doss was her high school team’s leading scorer, the Indianapolis area’s Player of the Year, and Indiana’s Miss Soccer 2012. Doss is just one part of a star-studded incoming class that will be expected to contribute immediately and help turn things around at Xavier after a dismal 2012 campaign.