Creighton University
Missouri State
Bluejays Blank Bears, 2-0, in Men's Soccer
10/12/2003 3:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. - An early goal from Damien Westfield and a late tally by Vince Odorisio helped guide the Creighton men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Southwest Missouri State Sunday afternoon at the Creighton Soccer Field. The Jays improve to 2-0-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference with their third consecutive shutout of a league foe.
The Bluejays (5-3-3, 2-0-1 MVC) took control of the match early, when Westfield found the back of the net at 4:49. After SMS goalkeeper Matt Pickens made a save, Westfield was able to gather the loose ball and knock it in from close range for his first goal of the season. Freshman Michael Kraus and senior Matt Thomas assisted on the score.
The Bears (6-5-1, 1-3-0 MVC) put pressure on the Jays all day, unloading 24 shots in the match, compared to just five shots taken by Evansville against CU last Friday night. SMS managed only four shots on goal out of its 24 attempts however. The Bluejays countered with a higher percentage of shots on net, putting 11-of-13 shots on goal.
Senior Guido Leon and junior Andrew Brown combined for the shutout, each playing one half. Leon made one save in the first half to notch the victory, while Brown made three saves in his 45 minutes of play. Two Brown saves came in succession as he stopped an initial shot and rebound late in the match to preserve the one goal lead. SMS' Pickens stopped nine CU shots.
Vince Odorisio scored his first Creighton goal with just 51 seconds remaining on the clock. Odorisio took a feed from Kraus and used a breakaway opportunity to beat Pickens for the insurance goal.
The Jays have not allowed a goal through three games of MVC play. CU has now gone the last 362 minutes and 10 seconds without allowing a goal, a first half score by Yale on Sept. 21.
Creighton takes its unbeaten and unscored upon Valley mark to Vanderbilt this Friday for a 7 p.m. match with the Commodores.
