The No. 6 ranked Bluejays kick off the Big East Tournament quarterfinals against No. 3 Providence on the Friars’ home turf. Seeded sixth just like last year, the Bluejays hope to repeat their stellar 2022 post-season run with a Big East Championship title.  

Heading into the first round of postseason play, the Bluejays are set to face a Friar team who has gone 3-1-1 in their last five contests and stand at 5-0-3 at home. The Bluejays, meanwhile, stand at 4-6-6 overall, amassing only one win against No. 7 Akron in their last five matches. 

Creighton at Providence

Time: 3 p.m.

Video: FloFC

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First Half-

– Less than a minute into the match (56 seconds), Providence’s Brendan McSorley scored with assists from Nathan Messer and Rodrigo Vaza. The goal marks McSorley’s 10th goal of the season.

Providence leads 1-0

– In the 15th minute, Jackson Castro with an individual effort down the left side of the pitch, dodging Providence defenders for a shot, wide right. 

– Creighton seemingly unable to create strong looks in the attacking third as they face foul calls and a strong Providence defense in the 19th minute.

– Miscommunication with the Bluejays in the attacking third results in a turn over in the 23rd minute.

– Andrija Savic blocks the ball with his body in front of the goal in the 24th minute, as Providence player Gevork Diarbian made his run into Creighton’s third following a Bluejay turnover. Savic’s blocked shot kept the deficit to only one goal.

– In the 27th minute, Omar Ramadan fought for the turnover and sent the ball to Jackson Castro in the attacking third. Castro passed to Alfie Pope on the left side. Pope sent a shot into the left side of the net, but a fingertip save from Providence kept the Bluejays from the equalizer.

– In the 31st minute, an offsides call on Providence keeps the Friars from taking 2-0 lead on a possession that had the Friars in a strong position to score in the first half. The score remains 1-0.

– Blocked shot by Ramadan in the 32nd minute keeps the score at a one goal deficit as O’Neill got beat on the left side of the pitch, and a Friar pass to the middle of the 18-yard box threatened a goal.

– The second part of the first half proving more fruitful for Creighton’s offensive shot opportunities. The Bluejays still tally only one shot on goal, but have led stronger possessions in the attacking third.

AT THE HALF- Providence leads 1-0

• Bluejays lead the Friars 6-0 in corner kicks (the Bluejays generally average seven corner kicks per game)
• Creighton and Providence evenly battled for 5 shots apiece 
• Providence holds a slight 2-1 lead over shots on goal

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Second Half- 

– Dominic Briggs with takeaway in the 47th minute, and drives it into the attacking third. Alfie Pope with his shot in the 18-yard box blocked and cleared.

– In the 49th minute, Providence with a dangerous opportunity on a turnover that led to a one-on-one in Creighton’s third. The shot was sent over the top of the net.

– In the 51st minute, Arilla with long range shot from the right side of the attacking third, which is just punched away by Providence. Pope was in the vicinity before the Friar goalkeeper saved the shot.

– Creighton racks up its 8th corner kick in the 53rd minute, but the ball is sent back once again. 

– In the 61st minute, Black Gillingham with leaping save to the top right corner of the net to tip a shot away. The dangerous opportunity came from the center of the 18-yard box by Providence, setting up a corner kick.

– Creighton with a dangerous chance in the 65th minute, but Miguel Arilla was slow on the trigger for a shot in the center of the 18-yard box. The ball was deflected. Arilla got a second sliding shot that was cleared by the Friars.

– In the 65th minute, a foul on Providence goalkeeper for time wasting leads to an indirect free kick taken by Giorgio Probo. The Friars were able to get the stop.

-In the 71st minute, the Friars take advantage of the counter attack and Bruno Rosa scores on the right side of the pitch. Creighton’s goal deficit rises to two goals to nil.

Providence leads 2-0

-Providence takes a 3-0 lead in the 76th minute with a netted shot by Brandan McSorley, his second goal of the night and 11th on the season.

Providence leads 3-0

– Creighton breaks double digits with its 10th corner kick in the 79th minute. Nothing comes from it.

– Shot by Dominic Briggs in the 83rd minute, shut down by Providence.

Final score- 3-0, Providence victory.

Providence advances to the semi-finals of the Big East Tournament to play the winner of Akron and Xavier.