Creighton University
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Western Michigan
Bluejays Buck Broncos 4-0 in Men's Soccer Opener
9/3/2004 3:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. ? Creighton's defense shut down the Western Michigan attack and the offense poured in four goals as the 24th-ranked Bluejay men's soccer team opened the season with a dominating 4-0 victory over the Broncos Friday night in the second match of the annual Diadora Challenge at the Creighton Soccer Field. Four different Jays scored and two keepers combined for the shutout.
Vince Odorisio (Omaha / Skutt) got the scoring started when he launched a shot across the net and over a diving WMU goalkeeper. Julian Nash assisted Odorisio's goal in the 18th minute, which came from 24 yards out and was perfectly arched from right to left, over the sprawling keeper.
The Bluejays were awarded a penalty kick in the 42nd minute when a yellow card was issued to a WMU player for taking down a Bluejay inside the box. Brian Biggerstaff stepped up and drilled the PK to the right side of the net as WMU keeper, Brent Miller, guessed left.
The Jays took a 2-0 lead into the break, having allowed only four shots in the first 45 minutes. CU outshout the Broncos 12-4 in the opening half, while CU goalkeeper Andrew Brown stopped the only shot he faced. Freshman Matt Allen (Omaha / Burke) stepped into the CU net for the second half and stopped two shots, as the Broncos were limited to only three shot attempts in the second half.
Sophomore Jarod Tarver combined with freshman Joan Carvajal for an exciting breakaway goal in the 65th minute. Tarver had just the keeper to beat, and did so at the 64:21 mark.
Senior Kama Bennah scored his first goal since Nov. 9, 2002 in the 82nd minute. Nash was awarded his second assist of the night as he and Bennah were able to fight the ball free from the WMU keeper and defender. The Liberia native then found the back of an empty net for his second career Creighton goal.
On top of outscoring WMU 4-0, CU outworked and outhustled the Broncos all night, as evident in the 23-7 shot advantage and the 6-1 corner ad.
Southwest Missouri State and Loyola Marymount played to a 2-2 tie in the opening match of the tournament. LMU took an early 2-0 lead, but SMS battled back for the draw as eight yellow cards and three red cards were issued in the physical battle.
The tournament concludes Sunday with SMS taking on WMU at 5:00 p.m. The Jays and LMU will kick off at approximately 7:30.
GAME NOTES: Creighton has never lost a match at the Diadora Challenge, now in its eighth season, CU is 11-0-3 in the annual tournament ... CU has never lost a season-opener under Head Coach Bob Warming, improving to 7-0-2 in his nine season lid-lifters at Creighton ... Dating back to last year, CU has out-scored its opponents 10-0 in its last two home games.
