Friday, October 1
Morrison Stadium
7:00 PM
Creighton University
1
vs
0
Eastern Illinois
No. 13 Men's Soccer Wins MVC Opener, 1-0, Over Eastern Illinois
10/1/2010 9:59:00 PM | Men's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. - There were plenty of scoring opportunities for the 13th-ranked Creighton men's soccer team in Friday night's Missouri Valley Conference opener, but only one finish in a 1-0 victory over Eastern Illinois at Morrison Stadium. Jose Gomez scored the game's lone tally in the 81st minute, the only goal among Creighton's 26 shots on the night. The shutout was Creighton's sixth in eight matches this year and its fourth in as many tries at home, improving the Jays' overall record to 7-1-0 on the season.
Gomez helped create his own scoring chance in the 81st minute, working a give-and-go with Ethan Finlay for his third goal of the season. The sophomore transfer worked took a pass and went straight into the EIU defense before leading Finlay with a pass to his right. With the EIU goalkeeper and defense drawn to Creighton's leading goal-scorer, Finlay gave the ball back to Gomez who burried his close range shot into the upper left corner. The score at 80:33 was Gomez's second game-winner of the season.
"I was very happy with the amount of chances we created tonight," said head coach Jamie Clark after his first MVC match. "We played a great attacking style of soccer tonight, it just took us a little longer to generate the score we were looking for."
The Gomez goal allowed the Bluejay crowd of 2,039 to take a deep breath after numerous scoring chances prior to the score had yet to net a result. Finlay himself attempted seven shots in the match, hitting the right post in the first half and the cross bar in the second half. Sophomore Andrew Ribeiro, who earned his first career start Friday night, had multiple scoring chances, attempting four shots in the win, including a blast which skimmed the cross bar late in the second half. Dion Acoff and Greg Jordan each attempted four shots as well.
The Panthers (3-5-0, 0-1-0 MVC) attempted only three shots in the first half, with one working its way on goal. EIU's best scoring chance came in the 48th minute, when Brian Holt was unable to corral two shots on goal by the Panthers. Alex Koch's initial shot from outside the 18-yard box was saved by Holt, but the rebound found its way to Trevor Kohlrus. Holt again could not hold on to the Kohlrus shot, but EIU's third shot in the sequence by Ryan Child was sent left of the target.
The Bluejays out-shot the Panthers 26-10 in the contest and had 10 corner kicks to just one by EIU.
Holt now has 25 shutouts in 43 career starts, while the Bluejays have yet to allow a goal in four home matches this season. The home shutout streak is CU's longest since posting five consecutive clean sheets in 2003.
Creighton now turns its attention to a pair of key non-conference home matches next week, beginning with seventh-ranked Tulsa on Tuesday night. Tuesday's kickoff against the Golden Hurricane is set for 7 p.m., at Morrison Stadium. The Jays then welcome perennial national power Indiana to Omaha for the first time next Saturday night as part of Creighton Homecoming activities.
NOTES: Creighton is now 13-3-4 all-time in MVC openers ... Friday's game marked the 200th home match for the Bluejays since restarting the program in 1990, 78th match at Morrison Stadium ... Felipe Navarro and Nick Goo both appeared in their second match of the season off the bench for the Jays ... The Jays are 17-0-2 against EIU since the Panthers joined the MVC in 1996 ... Eastern Illinois is playing its final season as an MVC men's soccer affiliate, moving to the Summit League as an affiliate for the 2011 season.
Gomez helped create his own scoring chance in the 81st minute, working a give-and-go with Ethan Finlay for his third goal of the season. The sophomore transfer worked took a pass and went straight into the EIU defense before leading Finlay with a pass to his right. With the EIU goalkeeper and defense drawn to Creighton's leading goal-scorer, Finlay gave the ball back to Gomez who burried his close range shot into the upper left corner. The score at 80:33 was Gomez's second game-winner of the season.
"I was very happy with the amount of chances we created tonight," said head coach Jamie Clark after his first MVC match. "We played a great attacking style of soccer tonight, it just took us a little longer to generate the score we were looking for."
The Gomez goal allowed the Bluejay crowd of 2,039 to take a deep breath after numerous scoring chances prior to the score had yet to net a result. Finlay himself attempted seven shots in the match, hitting the right post in the first half and the cross bar in the second half. Sophomore Andrew Ribeiro, who earned his first career start Friday night, had multiple scoring chances, attempting four shots in the win, including a blast which skimmed the cross bar late in the second half. Dion Acoff and Greg Jordan each attempted four shots as well.
The Panthers (3-5-0, 0-1-0 MVC) attempted only three shots in the first half, with one working its way on goal. EIU's best scoring chance came in the 48th minute, when Brian Holt was unable to corral two shots on goal by the Panthers. Alex Koch's initial shot from outside the 18-yard box was saved by Holt, but the rebound found its way to Trevor Kohlrus. Holt again could not hold on to the Kohlrus shot, but EIU's third shot in the sequence by Ryan Child was sent left of the target.
The Bluejays out-shot the Panthers 26-10 in the contest and had 10 corner kicks to just one by EIU.
Holt now has 25 shutouts in 43 career starts, while the Bluejays have yet to allow a goal in four home matches this season. The home shutout streak is CU's longest since posting five consecutive clean sheets in 2003.
Creighton now turns its attention to a pair of key non-conference home matches next week, beginning with seventh-ranked Tulsa on Tuesday night. Tuesday's kickoff against the Golden Hurricane is set for 7 p.m., at Morrison Stadium. The Jays then welcome perennial national power Indiana to Omaha for the first time next Saturday night as part of Creighton Homecoming activities.
NOTES: Creighton is now 13-3-4 all-time in MVC openers ... Friday's game marked the 200th home match for the Bluejays since restarting the program in 1990, 78th match at Morrison Stadium ... Felipe Navarro and Nick Goo both appeared in their second match of the season off the bench for the Jays ... The Jays are 17-0-2 against EIU since the Panthers joined the MVC in 1996 ... Eastern Illinois is playing its final season as an MVC men's soccer affiliate, moving to the Summit League as an affiliate for the 2011 season.
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