EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer team looks for a fresh start this weekend, hosting Creighton in the Aces’ first Missouri Valley Conference match of the 2011 season. Up against the reigning regular season and tournament champions, Evansville enters Saturday’s contest with a 1-7-4 non-conference record. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. CT at Arad McCutchan Stadium.
CATCH THE ACTION
HISTORY
The Purple Aces own a 14-12-1 overall lead in the all-time series, but the Jays have won the last four meetings. Evansville and Creighton last met in the Missouri Valley Conference semifinal match on Nov. 5, 2010 in Omaha, Neb. Creighton earned the shutout, 5-0, outshooting the Aces, 22-6. UE last met the Bluejays at home on Oct. 29, 2009. CU won 4-1. Evansville last topped Creighton on Oct. 25, 2008 with a 5-2 victory.
SCOUTING THE BLUEJAYS (5-4-1, 1-0 MVC)
Last Week: 1-0-1
Sept. 23, vs. UNI, 1-0, W
Sept. 25, at Wyoming, 0-0, T
In 2010, Creighton finished with a 15-4-2 record and 5-1-0 mark in the MVC, taking both the regular season and tournament titles. Creighton enters Saturday’s match with a 1-0 Missouri Valley Conference record after topping Northern Iowa at home, 1-0, last Friday. Most recently, the Bluejays come off a 0-0 draw with Wyoming, despite being outshot 25-6 in the contest. Goalkeeper Alicia Montgomery recorded 13 saves and her 19
th career shutout. Montgomery has recorded four shutouts this season, playing 457:05 minutes with a 0.79 GAA, 37 saves, .902 save percentage, and 3-3-1 record. Offensively, Brittney Neumann has done most of the work, tallying four goals, one assist, and nine points. Five other players have scored one goal apiece. All 10 of CU’s matches have been decided by one or two goals, as the Jays have not scored nor given up more than two goals in a single contest and lead the MVC with six shutouts. Sophomore Shonna Fraiser is the reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Week, helping the Jays to three straight shutouts, while scoring the winning goal at UNI.
EVANSVILLE (1-7-4, 0-0 MVC)
Last Week: 0-1
Sept. 24, vs. IPFW, 0-1, L
THIRSTY FOR A WIN
Evansville is currently in the midst of its longest winless drought in program history, dating back to 1993. The Aces have not recorded a win in eight matches, going 0-5-3 since their last victory on Aug. 28 over Valparaiso. Evansville looks to end the drought Saturday.
CLOSE CALLS
Eight of UE’s 12 non-conference matches were decided by zero or one goal. In addition, Evansville has not lost nor won a match in overtime this season, despite going beyond regulation four times.
FIRST IN THE NATION
Goalkeeper
Chaviel Harrison ranks first in the nation for goalie minutes played. Harrison who has played all 1160:00 minutes for the Aces has not allowed a goal in four double overtime periods. Harrison also ranks fourth in the NCAA in total saves with 79. In 2010, Harrison broke UE’s single-season record with 116 saves.
NICE D
Against IPFW, Harrison recorded one save, a season-low, mostly due to the top defensive play of UE’s back line. Senior
Sam Conrad, juniors
Danielle Langness and
Kasey Cartwright, and freshman
Tatiana Pagan did a nice job of redirecting the ball before the Mastodons were able to reach the net’s last line of defense.
LEADERS OF THE ATTACK
Sophomores
Kaitlin Robinett and
Stephanie Thompson have each tallied three goals this season, leading the Aces’ offense.
Tasha Prentice (2),
Kasey Cartwright,
Kristen Davis,
Taylor Brand, and
Danielle Langness have also found the back of the net this fall.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
After Saturday’s home contest, the Aces hit the road for three consecutive road matches, heading to Illinois State (10/9), Northern Iowa (10/15), and Indiana State (10/19). UE returns home on Oct. 23
rd to face Drake at 1:00 p.m. CT.
