Creighton women’s soccer’s four-match unbeaten run came to an end Sunday in a 3-0 loss to Gonzaga, leaving the Bluejays with a disappointing finish to Senior Day at Morrison Stadium.
After a one-hour rain delay, the Bulldogs and Bluejays battled through a physical opening 20 minutes before Gonzaga broke through in the 23rd minute. Samantha Snorsky intercepted a Creighton pass in the attacking third and fired a shot past junior goalkeeper Morgan Paley to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.
The goal ended Creighton’s scoreless streak at 429:24, the fifth-longest in program history.
Gonzaga carried the lead into halftime before doubling its leading the 52nd minute. Shila Rasoul headed a cross inside the far post for a 2-0 Bulldog lead.
The Bluejays struggled to find an answer offensively, finishing the afternoon with seven shots compared to Gonzaga’s 11.
Head coach Jimmy Walker said Gonzaga’s intensity and midfield play made the difference.
“They wanted it a lot more than we did,” he said. “Their midfield was pretty elite today … that back four shut us down in key moments.”
The result was a contrast to the Bluejays’ recent stretch, which saw them go four consecutive matches without a loss.
“We’ve been really good the past three weeks in defending well and being very competitive,” Walker said.
Creighton had opportunities to change the game early, but Walker said the Bluekays needed to capitalize on their chances.
“We had two clear-cut chances, and we’ve got to start scoring those goals. If we don’t finish those chances, there’s gonna be more pressure defensively throughout the game,” Walker said.
Walker also addressed the team’s hot-and-cold nature and how conceding one goal can lead to more mistakes.
“When we’re at our best, we’re fantastic. When we’re off, we’re really off,” he noted. “When we concede a goal, we tend to compound those errors.”
The loss came on a day meant to celebrate Creighton’s senior class. Olivia Duray, Tejia Murray-Powell and Clara Kulick were among the seniors recognized before the match and all three saw action against Gonzaga.
Duray came into the program after spending two years at the University of Pittsburgh. She has appeared in every match since joining the Bluejays, addings three goals and four assists in that time, and said the family-like culture surronding the program was a major reason she chose Creighton.
Murray-Powell, a four-year Bluejay from Ontario, Canada, has logged over 3,000 minutes during her career so far. One of her favorite memories came last season when she assisted on a goal during Creighton’s comeback against then-No. 13 Arkansas.
Kulick has also spent her entire collegiate career at Creighton. The senior midfielder has appeared in 55 matches and scored her first collegiate goal against Arkansas last season.
Ella Luna was also recognized as part of the senior class. The Milwaukee native is in her third season with the Bluejays after transferring from Ole Miss following her freshman year. She has appeared in 22 matches during her Creighton career, but injuries have limited her time on the field.
Kendal Radke was also recognized on Senior Day after spending three years in the Creighton program before medically retiring. The forward appeared in 16 matches during her career and scored her first collegiate goal against Omaha.
Savanna Solomon, a defender from Omaha, was also honored. Solomon played three seasons for the Bluejays, starting 34 of her 40 appearances and recording more than 3,000 minutes during her Creighton career. Growing up in Omaha, Solomon said she chose Creighton after dreaming of playing for the Bluejays from a young age.
Fifth-year goalkeeper Kailey Hall was not part of this year’s Senior Day recognition after being honored last season.
Together, the seniors have played an important role in shaping the program and providing leadership for a younger Bluejay squad.
“It’s a great group, and they work really hard. They still have the opportunity to be the most successful senior class in our Big East history,” Walker said.
This senior class also experienced a coaching staff change early in their time at Creighton, when Walker was named head coach in 2024. For many of the seniors, the transition came after their freshman season, making them part of the group that helped establish a new culture within the program.
“The older senior class has really given us a foundation to build off of,” Walker said. “It’s been helpful for the younger players.”
This was a tough matchup that ended the Bluejays’ home winning streak and home shutout streaks. Even so, the Bluejays have a quick turnaround, facing Omaha on tongiht at 7 p.m.
“We’ve got to get back to our identity: that is, being scrappy and hard-working. And no better game than a crosstown rivalry to do that,” Walker said.
The game is also the annual Kicks for a Cure match, which raises funds and awareness for local cancer research. The cause adds another layer of meaning to an already-anticipated matchup and brings fans together to support the Bluejays.