Creighton University
Missouri State
Bluejays and Bears Play to 1-1 Draw in Men's Soccer
10/5/2006 3:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Creighton limited Missouri State to just one shot on goal, while earning a 1-1 draw in its first road Missouri Valley Conference contest of the season Wednesday night. The tie moves the Bluejays' record to 6-3-3 overall and 1-0-1 in the MVC, as the seventh overtime match of the year for the Jays equals the school record for overtime matches in a season.
The Bluejays and Bears (6-4-3, 1-0-1 MVC) played a scoreless first half. The Jays earned six corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes, including four corners in a span of less than two minutes midway through the half.
Creighton scored first as freshman Jeff Thayer scored his team-leading fourth goal of the year in the 50th minute. He combined with freshman Rodrigo Faria on a give-and-go set to put the Bluejays up 1-0 at 49:54.
The Jays held their 1-0 lead until late in regulation. Missouri State player Omar Shoucair picked up a yellow card at 87:18, but the Bears were then awarded a free kick when play resumed. They used the opportunity to score the equalizer as Kyle Hopson took the free kick and Justin Douglass knocked in a header at 87:22 - MSU's only shot on goal.
Creighton managed four shots on goal in the tie, including two from sophomore Byron Dacy. Dacy had a solid scoring chance in the second overtime period when he got by the Bear goalkeeper, only to have an MSU defender clear the ball off the line for a team save.
In last year's 2-0 Bluejay victory over Missouri State in Omaha, the CU defense held the Bears without a shot on goal, meaning now in the last 200 minutes of play against MSU, the Jays have allowed only one shot on goal.
The Bluejays will step out of MVC play on Saturday when they travel to play at 17th-ranked Memphis. The Jays and Tigers will kick off at 1 p.m.
