Creighton University
California
No. 12 Bluejays Blank Sixth-Ranked Cal, 2-0
9/21/2008 10:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Walters scored his first goal of the season in the 16th minute, when his shot made its way into the net despite being partially blocked by Cal goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Kris Clark, a native of nearby Monte Sereno, Calif., was credited with an assist on what proved to be the game-winning tally. The game-winning goal was the second of Walters' CU career, as his last game-winner came against No. 2 Indiana last year.
Thayer padded the Bluejays' lead when he tallied his team-leading third goal of the season in the 47th minute. The junior from Omaha beat Frei to his right and put the ball in the top corner of the goal, with Walters earning the assist on the score.
Holt was up to the challenge of playing Creighton's first ranked foe this season, turning away eight shots in the match. The redshirt freshman keeper had made nine saves total in his previous five matches this season. The shutout was CU's fourth in six games this season, helping lower Holt's goals against average to a minute 0.33.
“Obviously it was a great weekend for our players,” said head coach Bob Warming after his team posted two shutouts over Pac-10 opponents this weekend. “I'm proud of how we played on the road and that we were able to keep our streak alive.”
An impressive streak it is, as the Bluejays are the only team in Division I men's soccer to not have lost a game away from home since the start of 2007. CU's last road loss was its final match of the 2006 season. The Jays are 6-0-1 in true road games since the start of last season, while they are 8-0-1 away from home in that span.
Warming was also appreciative of the amount of blue in the stands at both Stanford and Cal this weekend.
“It's wonderful to have such great support on the road,” said Warming after roughly 100 Bluejay fans took in the Bay Area weekend. “It shows that we are creating a culture where people want to come watch us, whether we are at home or on the road.”
Cal, ranked as high as No. 3 in some national polls this week, was dealt its first loss of the season by the Bluejays. The Bears slipped to 4-1-2 on the year, one game after the Bears handed Missouri Valley Conference opponent Drake its first loss of the year.
The Jays are now 7-1-1 in their last nine true road games against top 25 opponents, while this was CU's first true road game against a ranked foe since 2005. CU is also 4-0-1 in its last five games against the ranked.
Creighton returns home next Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Denver.
