<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2S6AtM_0wDvvt4N00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2S6AtM_0wDvvt4N00" width="1200" height="630" >In a hard-fought defensive battle, the Creighton women’s soccer team secured a 1-0 victory over Providence this past Sunday with a second-half penalty kick from sophomore Anja Jestrovic. This win pushed the Bluejays into third place in the Big East standings and improved their record to 6-5-1 on the season and 3-3-0 in conference play.From the opening seconds, both teams struggled to find a rhythm amid wind gusts of 25-30 mph, which affected ball control.“It makes the game a lot more difficult against the wind, and today was tough,” Head Coach Jimmy Walker said.Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Zalac echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the challenges posed by the wind: “At halftime, I knew I had to be sharp. Even warming up, the ball was whipping at me because of the wind.”Despite controlling 58% of possession in the first half, Creighton struggled to convert opportunities into goals. The Bluejays took nine shots and earned two corner kicks, yet Providence goalkeeper Emma Bodmer was tested only once during the half.“We had the looks; the opportunities were there, we just couldn’t finish early on,” Walker said. “That’s something we need to work on,...getting those shots on frame.”Providence faced their own challenges, failing to record a shot attempt until nearly 25 minutes into the match.Creighton’s defensive unit, anchored by Zalac, remained resolute throughout, with Walker praising her performance.“Alyssa has been a wall for us in the back,” Walker said.Zalac's defensive efforts gave her six saves during the match.The Canadian credited her defenders on her ability to keep Providence at bay, saying, “[They] did a really good job making it obvious for me. Even when Providence missed shots, I was there, and I knew [my defenders] were blocking off a good part of the goal for me. It was a team effort to help me make those saves.”The second half saw Creighton facing the wind, but Zalac rose to the occasion once more, making a crucial save in the 48th minute against a powerful shot from Providence’s Abby Schoeley.The turning point of the match came after Providence's Abbey Finn fouled Jestrovic inside the box, setting up a penalty kick for Creighton. With poise, Jestrovic slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, marking her second goal of the season and putting Creighton ahead 1-0 in the 76th minute.Desperate for an equalizer, Providence pushed hard, but Zalac was again called upon to make pivotal saves, one of which came as a low-driven shot from Alanna Coffie. The physicality of the match escalated, culminating in a yellow card for a Providence player after shoving Zalac. Despite the intensity, Creighton’s defense held firm and stayed composed, frustrating Providence’s efforts and securing the win.The Bluejays will look to continue building on the momentum of their past two wins as they prepare to face DePaul at 12PM this Sunday at Morrison Stadium in their annual Pink Out game.</div></body>

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Bluejays push past Providence to secure third place in Big East

In a hard-fought defensive battle, the Creighton women’s soccer team secured a 1-0 victory over Providence this past Sunday with a second-half penalty kick from sophomore Anja Jestrovic. This win pushed the Bluejays into third place in the Big East standings and improved their record to 6-5-1 on the season and 3-3-0 in conference play.