Creighton University
Loyola Marymount
Bluejays Claim Tournament Title With 2-1 Victory Over LMU
9/5/2004 3:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. ? One year ago the Creighton men's soccer team dropped a heartbreaker at Loyola Marymount, 2-1, with three seconds remaining in double overtime. On Sunday night at the Creighton Soccer Field, the 24th-ranked Bluejays returned the favor by coming from behind to defeat the Lions 2-1 to claim the tournament title at the Diadora Challenge. Senior Julian Nash scored the equalizer and was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.
Despite out-shooting the Lions 7-4 in the first half, the Bluejays went into the locker room trailing 1-0. LMU (0-1-1) was able to find the back of the net when Tyler Mehl's shot deflected off of a CU defender, changing the path of the ball and getting by a diving Andrew Brown in goal. Mehl's goal with 47 seconds remaining in the first half was assisted by Nick Blanco and goalkeeper Robert Flores.
The Bluejay (2-0-0) offense kicked it up a notch in the final 35 minutes of the match, sparking the comeback. Nash scored his first goal of the season off of a nice set up from his teammates. After Vince Odorisio had a throw in, Joan Carvajal knocked the ball past Brian Biggerstaff. Biggerstaff allowed the ball to continue by him and reach Nash on the far side, where he beat the LMU keeper in the 60th minute.
The Jays continued to put on an impressive attack, getting awarded a penalty kick. Biggerstaff's PK attempt was saved and it appeared the Bluejays banged in the rebound, but the goal was disallowed due to an offsides call in the 63rd minute.
CU's pressure continued to give the LMU defense trouble, with the Jays out-shooting LMU 11-6 in the second half (18-10 for the game). Sophomore Tony Odorisio's first career goal was a game-winner, coming in the 86th minute. Odorisio headed Ryan Junge's throw-in toward the net and the ball deflected off of a LMU defender for the game-winner.
The presence of 2003 leading scorer, Michael Kraus, helped set up the game winner. Kraus, nursing a tender ankle, did not play in the first match of the year and played only one minute in Sunday's win. Kraus made that playing time count as LMU's attention was directed toward the sophomore forward during Junge's throw-in and Odorisio's tally.
Nash was named tournament MVP, after assisting two goals in CU's 4-0 win over Western Michigan on Friday. Carvajal, Matt Wieland and Andrew Peterson were also named to the all-tournament team for CU. The Jays are now 12-0-3 all-time in the Diadora Challenge (eight seasons).
LMU finished third in the tournament. Southwest Missouri State claimed second place with a 1-0 victory over fourth-place Western Michigan in earlier Sunday action.
The 24th-ranked Bluejays return to action on Friday at the UNLV FILA Invitational in Las Vegas. CU faces No. 7 UCLA on Friday and Washington on Sunday.
Diadora Challenge All-Tournament Team
Creighton (1st Place)
Julian Nash (MVP)
Matt Wieland
Andrew Peterson
Joan Carvajal
SMS (2nd place)
Jon Watson
Nathan Platz
Nick Pollard
Loyola Marymount (3rd place)
Armando Melendez
Diego Souza
Western Michigan (4th place)
Jason Okroy
Edgar Rivera
