With only two games remaining in the regular season the Creighton women’s soccer team has put themselves in a difficult situation. Coming off a 1-0 loss at Missouri State last Sunday, the Jays (3-10-2, 0-4-0) return home to face second place Evansville (4-7-3, 3-1-1) tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. at Morrison Stadium. In order to qualify for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, Creighton needs to win that game, beat Northern Iowa (7-9-1, 2-2-1) on the road in the regular season finale, and have Indiana State go winless in their final two games at home against Drake and on the road against Missouri State.
Adding to the pressure of facing a do-or-die situation, it might also be the last time Creighton fans get to see seniors Brittney Neumann, Gabriela Guillen, Katie Murphy, Katie Jo Swanson, and Sarah Kendall take the field at Morrison Stadium. So far, it has been a challenging final season for this group, but they know can have a sweet ending if they get back on the winning track, “It’s been frustrating, but it fuels me to play every game like it’s my last game. Pretty soon it is going to be my last game. That drives me to want to win, to keep fighting, and to not give up even though we have a losing record,” said Neumann.
This group was part of the 2010 team that won the MVC Tournament and lost to Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They all consider that one of their fondest memories of their Creighton careers, but with two games to go, they think there may be more of those moments on the horizon. “Winning the MVC my sophomore year is probably my best memory here,” said Neumann. “Also, I’ve enjoyed getting to know the girls on our team. Every year there is a different group of girls, and I consider them my family and some of my best friends. Going out, even though we do have a losing season, once we get into the quarterfinals I think we can make this season one to remember in a positive way.”
Senior keeper Katie Jo Swanson echoed that sentiment, saying, “It has been fun being around all of the girls, meeting so many nice people, and making good friends. A couple of more wins would be a good way to end it.”
The end is not something Gabriela “Gabby” Guillen wants to think about, but she understands that it’s almost here whether she likes it or not. “It’s always sad to think about it, but its reality. We have two games left and maybe the quarterfinals. Creighton has been great. I just want to remember 2010 when we won the MVC, and went to the NCAAs. That’s going to be my best memory here.”
For head coach Bruce Erickson, he’ll remember this group as one that took on the challenge of leading an inexperienced soccer team through a season where the effort on the field didn’t reflect their overall record.
“This is a group that I’ve challenged a lot in the last month with what they want their legacy to be. I think they’ll be very responsible for us ending on a high note. All five of them have been important members of our team. Gabby had to come in from Costa Rica and adjust to the college style of play. She’s always been a very technical and talented soccer player. Katie Murphy has been a model player for us. She might not start a lot of games, but she has a great attitude every day. She works her tail off as a nursing major, which is extremely challenging at Creighton. Sarah Kendall has come in and contributed since her freshman year, and has really stepped it up as a senior. Then, Katie Jo finally gets her chance to play, and she’s done well with that chance. When you get to this time of year you need a hot goalkeeper, and she’s been playing awfully well in training, and she’s been pretty good in the games. If she can continue that we can jump on her back.”
Erickson also praised his most decorated senior (Neumann) as she comes to the end of one of the most accomplished career in Creighton women’s soccer history. “She has really grown up over these four years. She knows what it takes to play at the highest level. She never has a bad game, because she’s a worker, she’s just tireless. Her work ethic is fantastic. She always gets after – she’s a gamer. She’s always had that fire, and I wish more of our players had that. That’s the part we’re going to miss the most. Well, and she’s scores goals. She scores goals against the best teams and in the biggest games.”
The season may not have gone the way this group expected it to in terms of their record, and it may not end the way they want it to, either. However, this is a quality group of young women who have represented Creighton University with class, selflessness, and hard work. No matter if this group ends with on a winning note or losing one, it will be a group that left a positive and lasting impact on Creighton women’s soccer.
Game Notes: Creighton has not lost a home finale since 2008 when they dropped a 5-2 decision to Evansville… Evansville leads the all-time series 14-13-1… Seniors Brittney Neumann and Katie Jo Swanson are approaching several Creighton women’s soccer records. Swanson is 12 saves away from breaking the Morrison Stadium single-season record held by Kristen Casey. Neumann is three goals, six points, and eight shots on goal away from setting new career records at Morrison Stadium. She is also three goals away from sole possession of second place on Creighton’s all-time goals scored list.