Creighton University
Bradley
No. 2 Bluejays Dominant in 2-0 MVC Semifinal Win
11/14/2008 11:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
EVANSVILLE, Ind. ? Creighton established a school record with its 12th shutout of the season with a 2-0 win over Bradley in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinals at Goebel Soccer Complex Friday night. The match, played in a constant and often driving rain, was decided when senior Tim Walters knocked in a header in the 19th minute, during a dominating first-half by the Bluejays. The win advances the No. 2-ranked and top-seeded Bluejays into their 14th MVC Tournament Title game, where they will face
Creighton (13-1-2) moved its unbeaten streak to 12 matches with the victory over the Braves (6-12-2). Walter's tucked in his fourth career game-winning goal at 18:06 when he headed in a perfectly placed crossed free-kick from MVC Player of the Year Andrei Gotsmanov. That tally was part of an impressive first half for the Jays, in which CU out-shot BU 9-0.
While Bradley managed five shots in the second half, the Bluejays continued to control the run of play on the artificial surface. Freshman Ethan Finlay scored his fifth goal of the season on a header of his own in the 80th minute to give the Jays a two-goal cushion. Finlay's goal resulted on a build up from fellow freshman Greg Jordan and junior Jeff Thayer, who were both credited with assists on the play.
The physical match, which was played in less than desirable conditions, featured 17 fouls for each side and a pair of yellow cards for both squads.
The victory allows the Jays a chance to play for the 11th MVC Tournament title in school history and first since 2006. The Jays will be playing in their fourth consecutive title match, with the last three coming against Bradley.
MVC Freshman of the Year Brian Holt stopped both shots on goal he saw in the match to post his 11th shutout of the season.
The championship match, which will be played on the
NOTES: Both semifinal matches were moved to an artificial field at Goebel Soccer Complex due to the continuous and driving rain in Evansville throughout Friday, while the championship match will return to UE's on-campus home Sunday ... Greg Jordan picked up his eighth yellow card of the season for a delay of game late in the second half and will now sit out Sunday's match due to yellow card accumulations ... CU is 10-0-2 over its last dozen matches, its longest unbeaten streak since 1995 ... CU's 12th shutout of the year breaks the former school mark of 11 held by the 1996 and 1999 teams ... The Jays have posted five shutouts in their last seven MVC Tourney matches and have 14 shutouts in 35 matches all-time in the Valley postseason ... The Jays are now 5-0-2 away from home this year and are undefeated in their last 14 matches (11-0-3) away from Omaha ... CU is 5-0-0 all-time in MVC Tournament matches in Evansville, winning the 1995 and 1997 tournaments hosted by UE ... CU is 2-0-0 in televised matches this year, topping Stanford 1-0 on Fox Soccer Channel and defeating Cal State Northridge 1-0 on CBS College Sports .. CU's other MVC Tournament titles came in 1992-95, 1997-98, 2000, 2002, 2005-06.
