UMKC, Creighton Set to Tangle in Omaha
9/18/2014 3:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer
UMKC KANGAROOS (3-3-2) at CREIGHTON BLUE JAYS (7-0-0)
Date: Sept. 19, 2014
Site: Omaha, Neb. / Morrison Stadium
Live Stats: GoCreighton.com
Live Video: GoCreighton.com
Twitter: @UMKCwSoccer
Series: Creighton leads 4-0-1.
Last Meeting: Madelyn Buckner's 13th minute goal stood up, as Creighton edged the 'Roos 1-0 at Durwood Stadium last season.
Cissell vs. Opponent: 0-2-1
The Games
Kansas City aims to knock off Creighton for the first time in program history when the Kangaroos travel to Omaha, Neb., on Friday for the sixth meeting in six years between the schools.
The Coaches
Entering his fourth year at the helm, UMKC head coach Chris Cissell is looking to build on the most successful season in program history in 2013. Under Cissell's leadership, the 'Roos set program marks for virtually every win-related category, including overall wins (12) and conference victories (eight), en route to the team's first appearance in the conference title game.
Cissell has compiled a record of 26-26-9 – marked success for a program that won just two games in two seasons prior to his arrival.
Bruce Erickson begins his 16th year at the helm for the Bluejays in 2014. He has led the Creighton to five NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 12 seasons.
Creighton rebounded from a down year in 2012 by posting its 12th winning season under Erickson with a 9-8-1 mark, its first season as a member of the BIG EAST conference in 2013.
The Series
Creighton has never lost to UMKC in five games against the 'Roos. In 2011, Cissell led the 'Roos to a 1-1 draw in Omaha, as then-freshman Nina Tzianos made 10 saves to keep a clean net for nearly 100 minutes after the Blue Jays scored 11:55 into a game that would eventually remained deadlocked through two overtimes. Allison Schau provided the equalizer at 62', capitalizing on a Taylor Bare miss from 25 yards out.
Scouting the Competition
Creighton enters Friday's match on a 14-game non-conference winning streak. The Blue Jays are off to their best start in school history, opening the 2014 campaign with seven consecutive victories. The seven-game winning streak is the second longest in school history.
Creighton was dominant in the Dakotas last weekend, hammering North Dakota and South Dakota, 3-0 and 3-1, respectively.
Junior Alyssa Jara posted her second multi-goal match in as many weeks, scoring twice in the victory over the Coyotes to move into a tie for the team-lead with five goals. Jara was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week last week.
