Creighton University
Memphis
No. 15 Men's Soccer Topples No. 23 Memphis, 3-1
9/16/2005 3:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. Memphis native Michael Kraus scored the game-winning goal to propel 15th-ranked Creighton past 23rd-ranked Memphis 3-1 Friday night at Morrison Stadium in the first match of the ninth annual Diadora Challenge. Kraus' goal in the 48th minute gave CU a 2-0 lead and the Bluejays (3-0-1) went on to hand the Tigers (4-1-0) their first defeat of the season.
The Bluejays got on the board early, as sophomore Tony Schmitz scored his first collegiate goal in the seventh minute. The Omaha Skutt graduate collected the ball after a corner kick by Jarod Tarver and sent a low blast past a diving Memphis goalkeeper from 12 yards out.
CU kept the high-powered Tiger offense off the scoreboard in the first half, carrying a 1-0 lead into the break. Memphis, who defeated Alabama A&M 7-0 on Tuesday, entered the match as the second-leading offense in the NCAA, averaging five goals per game, but did not convert a chance until eight minutes left in the match.
Kraus scored the game-winner at the 47:25 mark off a free kick set play. For the second time in as many games, Ryan Junge took the kick and Tim Bohnenkamp sent a crossing pass to the box from the corner. Kraus headed the ball in to put the Jays up 2-0. The tally was Kraus' second goal of the year, both serving as game-winners.
'It's always wonderful when you go into a town and land a recruit, and then he can come back and score the game-winner against his home town team,' said CU head coach Bob Warming after the win. 'Our guys played so hard for Mike (Kraus) tonight because they knew how much he wanted this and how important it was for him to get this result.'
The Tigers cut the CU lead in half in the 83rd minute when Jared Britcher scored his third goal of the season, blasting a shot from the top of the box.
CU responded in the 87th minute, peppering Memphis keeper Gavin McInerney with three straight shots on goal. McInerney turned away successive shots by Tarver and Brian Biggerstaff, but redshirt freshman Trevor Eastman pounced on the loose ball and put in his first goal while appearing in his first collegiate match.
Creighton's defense was impressive as the Jays turned away several scoring opportunities by the Tiger attack. Junge, Tony Odorisio, Brian Kallman and Matt Wieland combined with goalkeeper Matt Allen to keep the Memphis offense in check. Allen stopped six shots in net and knocked away crossing passes all night.
The Jays return to action in the Diadora Challenge Sunday afternoon against Mercer. CU hosts the Bears at 12:30 p.m. to conclude the tournament. Drake topped Mercer 4-1 in Des Moines in the tournament's other match Friday night.
