The Creighton women’s soccer team entered their road match against the Butler Bulldogs in Indianapolis on Oct. 25 riding a wave of momentum. Coming off a pair of Big East victories — a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over DePaul in Chicago after trailing 1-0 at halftime, and an impressive 3-0 home victory over Seton Hall, where Creighton controlled the match despite being down a player for much of the game – the Bluejays appeared to be hitting their stride at the right time.
Going into the match, Creighton held an overall record of 6-7-3 and a 3-3-2 mark in Big East play. With only the top four teams advancing to the conference tournament, this was a crucial matchup for the Bluejays, who remained in the hunt for the final postseason spot. Georgetown, Xavier and UConn had already secured their places near the top of the standings, while Creighton, Villanova, Providence and Butler battling for the fourth and final berth.
Understanding the stakes of the match, Butler wasted no time, firing off the first eight shots of the match. However, the Bluejays were able to survive this pressure, and none of these shots were successful for the Bulldogs. In the 30th minute, sophomore forward Anna Bragg took the Bluejays’ first shot of the match, but her shot went over the goal and the score stayed tied at zero.
The game remained scoreless until the 42nd minute, when Talia Sommer put Butler on the board with a stunning goal directly from a corner kick. Sommer curved the ball perfectly into the far top corner of the net, sailing over Creighton goalkeeper Alyssa Zalac. The unassisted strike gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Creighton tied the match early in the second half on its first shot of the period. The play started when Olivia Sides regained possession and sent a well-placed pass forward to Mallory Connealy just outside the box. Connealy turned and drew the Butler goalkeeper off her line before threading a cross toward the middle. Waiting in perfect position, Ariana Mondiri fired a composed shot past two Butler defenders and into the open net, leveling the match at 1-1.
The goal marked Mondiri’s eighth of the season, continuing her outstanding offensive run. She has now recorded a goal or an assist in six of Creighton’s last seven matches and became the first Bluejay to score in four straight games since Lauren Sullivan in 2016.
Despite the quick equalizer to start the second half, neither side was able to break through again, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. With the result, attention now turns to what the draw means for Creighton. Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s match and what it means moving forward.
#1 – Defense holds strong despite pressure
Butler peppered Creighton with 29 shots, including 10 corner kicks — seven of them in the second half — yet the Bluejays’ defense held strong. Creighton allowed just one goal, with goalkeeper Alyssa Zalac recording three key saves on the day. Despite taking only six shots and not earning a single corner, Creighton managed to score and secure a draw, showing resilience in the face of overwhelming pressure.
#2 – Creighton keeps Big East Tournament hopes alive
With the 1-1 draw, Creighton sits at 3-3-3 in Big East play, tied with Villanova for fourth place. Thanks to their 1-0 road victory over Villanova on Sept. 24, the Bluejays hold the tiebreaker, putting them in a strong position for the final postseason spot. Georgetown (27 points), Xavier (25 points) and UConn (23 points) have already solidified the top three spots, while Providence (11 points) remains in the hunt alongside Creighton and Villanova.
The Bluejays control their destiny. A win over St. John’s on Nov. 1 at Morrison Stadium will secure Creighton’s place in the Big East Tournament.
#3- Jays must stay focused to win against St. Johns
Creighton now turns its attention to St. John’s, a team with a 3-8-5 overall record and 1-5-3 in conference play. While the matchup may appear favorable on paper, the Bluejays cannot afford to underestimate the Red Storm. The Big East is a competitive league, and upsets are always possible, especially in a regular-season finale with tournament implications. Creighton will need to maintain sharp focus, execute on both ends of the field, and stay mentally dialed in to secure the win and punch their ticket to the postseason. Every pass, every defensive stand, and every shot will matter in what could be a defining match for the Bluejays’ season.
The Bluejays will close out their 2025 regular season at home against the St. John’s Red Storm tomorrow at Morrison Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.