Men's Soccer Opens Season Saturday Night
8/21/2010 10:07:00 AM | Men's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. - The Creighton men's soccer team kicks off its 2010 season tonight in Denver when they play the Denver Pioneers in an exhibition match. Kick off for the first of two Bluejays exhibition contests is set for 8 p.m. (CST). Fans can follow live stats of the match here. Creighton will play its only home exhibition match on Friday when it plays host to Hastings College at Morrison Stadium.
The Bluejays and Pioneers have met three times previously in the regular-season, with the Jays owning a 2-0-1 series lead. The Jays topped Denver 2-0 the last time these teams met in the regular-season in 2008 in Omaha. Creighton also topped DU, 2-1, in a spring exhibition match in 2009.
Tonight's match marks not only the debut of nine Bluejay newcomers, but also first-year head coach Jamie Clark. Clark, just the third Bluejay head coach since 1990, begins his third season as a collegiate head coach with an overall record of 26-10-1 he compiled at Harvard in the previous two seasons.
2010 Season Preview
Creighton's 2010 season will see the Bluejays in unfamiliar territory in more ways than one. The Jays narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament in 2009, snapping a streak of 17 straight postseason appearances, making this the first season since 1992 that the Jays begin a season looking to start a new streak.
Another new look for the Bluejays comes in head coach Jamie Clark, just the third Bluejay leader since the program was restarted in 1990. Creighton's new head coach looks to bring the same success he brought to Harvard over the past two seasons, leading the Crimson to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two years as a head coach.
The foundation is set for the Bluejays to return to the NCAA Tournament, where they have been 17 times in the past 18 seasons. Of the 12 players returning from last year's 7-4-5 team, six are starters, including a talented attacking group and junior goalkeeper Brian Holt to anchor the defense.
"Our goals and expectations are still to be playing during the last weekend of the season," said Clark. "Coming off of a down year, the guys are working hard to become one of the nation's elite teams again."
Holt has put up record-setting numbers in his first two seasons on campus. A second-team all-Missouri Valley Conference honoree last year, he already has 20 career shutouts, entering his junior campaign just six shy of the school record. Holt's career goals against average of 0.63 is the best in school and MVC history. A great communicator, the Jays will need his leadership and guidance in the back this year, as Creighton's biggest question mark comes on defense.
Holt has played all but 137 minutes during his first two seasons, but providing experience in a back-up keeper role, is fellow redshirt junior Bryan Hoie.
The Bluejays enjoyed a two-year run of the same starting backline in 2008 and 2009, resulting in one of the top-ranked defenses in the country. Only one starter remains from that talented foursome, senior Kyle Deremer. Deremer was recognized on the all-conference team last year and Clark fully expects the senior leader to take charge of the new players around him in the back this fall.
More than a handful of players will be competing for roles in the back this year, including three returners, a transfer and a pair of freshmen. Look for senior Andrew Duran to have his much anticipated breakout campaign. The national Player of the Year in high school, Duran was slowed by injuries in his first two seasons and started seven of 14 matches as a junior last year. His ability and experience will make him an option in the back and midfield.
Another senior who could find himself in a defensive role is Sergio Castillo. Often overlooked, Castillo has been a steady presence for the Bluejays over the past three seasons, starting 41 of his 52 career appearances as a defensive midfielder. His hard-nosed, ball-winning mentality could work well in a right back role.
Sophomore Brent Kallman may move into the middle of the defense, after being thrust into a starting defensive midfield role as a rookie last year. He earned MVC All-Freshman Team notice as he started seven of the 13 matches he appeared in last year, after Greg Jordan went down with injury.
Transfer Jace Peters brings experience to the back, after starting for two seasons at nearby Doane College. An all-conference honoree at the NAIA program, his ability to adjust to Creighton's program will determine his playing time.
A pair of Nebraska freshmen will also hope to impact the defense this year. Rookie Tyler Polak is one of the most heralded recruits in school history, as the Lincoln native has made 35 caps for the U-17 U.S. National Team and is a member of the U-20 National Team Pool. A left back, he will look to transfer his experience in international play to the collegiate level. Creighton Prep graduate Joe Branstetter is another good local talent the Bluejays will look to develop this year.
Jordan, the anchor to the Bluejay midfield, is back this year after missing all but two games last year. The sophomore received a medical redshirt in 2009 after tearing his ACL in Creighton's second game of the season. His ability to patrol the middle as a defender and distribute the ball going forward will again be a key to Creighton's success.
Senior Josh Moran returns to the midfield after leading the team with five assists in his first year with the Jays last year. His successful first season earned him a second-team all-MVC nod and raised expectations for him this year.
Junior Kris Clark was slowed by injuries last year, starting half of the 12 matches he played in. After offseason surgery, the Bluejays hope the speedy midfielder can again be a reliable contributor in the middle.
Four newcomers will push for playing time, headed up by sophomore transfer Jose Gomez. The midfielder has shown to be a creative player capable of unlocking defenses with his passing, as proven by leading Cal State Fullerton in assists as a freshman in 2008.
Freshmen Nick Golden, Nick Goo and Felipe Navarro all hope to impress enough to get on the pitch. Golden was a high school All-American at Washburn Rural in Topeka, Kan. Goo was the Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior. Navarro, who joined the team for spring practice, was the State Cup MVP in Missouri his senior season.
The talented forward pair of junior Ethan Finlay and sophomore Dion Acoff are poised to lead an offensive surge for the Bluejays this fall. Finlay, a first-team all-conference and all-region performer as a sophomore, has been tabbed to the preseason Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List this year. The Wisconsin native is Creighton's active leader with 14 goals, seven assists and 35 points, while nine of his 14 career tallies have been game-winners. He dominated the spring season and he will be expected to shoulder a lot of the offensive production for the Bluejays again this year.
Acoff was the 2009 MVC Freshman of the Year, after ranking second on the squad in assists. The lightning-quick attacker, who could also play in the midfield, showed flashes of his potential last year and will need to have a bigger role in the offense this season.
Sophomore Andrew Ribeiro saw limited action as a freshman, but his size could make him a great target in the middle of the front line.
Freshmen Liam Kelly and Kennedy Spencer will also contribute to the attack this fall. Kelly, a member of the U-20 Canadian National Team Pool, was one of the nation's leading academy scorers this summer, playing with the Crossfire Premier Academy. Spencer, another Hawaiian, was an ESPN Rise All-American and a school record-setting sprinter.
Coach Clark inherits one of the most challenging schedules in the country, as some preseason polls have the Bluejays playing six nationally ranked teams this year, including three in the top-six. Including 2009 NCAA runner-up Akron, the Bluejays face seven teams which advanced to the NCAA postseason a year ago. The Jays also welcome Central Arkansas and SIU Edwardsville as MVC soccer affiliate members. Creighton's schedule will no doubt put their RPI in position to earn an NCAA at-large bid if successful. Should they falter in the regular-season, the State Farm MVC Tournament will be hosted by Bradley in Peoria, Ill., this season, as the Jays could lock up The Valley's automatic bid with their record 12th MVC Tournament title.
The Bluejays and Pioneers have met three times previously in the regular-season, with the Jays owning a 2-0-1 series lead. The Jays topped Denver 2-0 the last time these teams met in the regular-season in 2008 in Omaha. Creighton also topped DU, 2-1, in a spring exhibition match in 2009.
Tonight's match marks not only the debut of nine Bluejay newcomers, but also first-year head coach Jamie Clark. Clark, just the third Bluejay head coach since 1990, begins his third season as a collegiate head coach with an overall record of 26-10-1 he compiled at Harvard in the previous two seasons.
2010 Season Preview
Creighton's 2010 season will see the Bluejays in unfamiliar territory in more ways than one. The Jays narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament in 2009, snapping a streak of 17 straight postseason appearances, making this the first season since 1992 that the Jays begin a season looking to start a new streak.
Another new look for the Bluejays comes in head coach Jamie Clark, just the third Bluejay leader since the program was restarted in 1990. Creighton's new head coach looks to bring the same success he brought to Harvard over the past two seasons, leading the Crimson to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two years as a head coach.
The foundation is set for the Bluejays to return to the NCAA Tournament, where they have been 17 times in the past 18 seasons. Of the 12 players returning from last year's 7-4-5 team, six are starters, including a talented attacking group and junior goalkeeper Brian Holt to anchor the defense.
"Our goals and expectations are still to be playing during the last weekend of the season," said Clark. "Coming off of a down year, the guys are working hard to become one of the nation's elite teams again."
Holt has put up record-setting numbers in his first two seasons on campus. A second-team all-Missouri Valley Conference honoree last year, he already has 20 career shutouts, entering his junior campaign just six shy of the school record. Holt's career goals against average of 0.63 is the best in school and MVC history. A great communicator, the Jays will need his leadership and guidance in the back this year, as Creighton's biggest question mark comes on defense.
Holt has played all but 137 minutes during his first two seasons, but providing experience in a back-up keeper role, is fellow redshirt junior Bryan Hoie.
The Bluejays enjoyed a two-year run of the same starting backline in 2008 and 2009, resulting in one of the top-ranked defenses in the country. Only one starter remains from that talented foursome, senior Kyle Deremer. Deremer was recognized on the all-conference team last year and Clark fully expects the senior leader to take charge of the new players around him in the back this fall.
More than a handful of players will be competing for roles in the back this year, including three returners, a transfer and a pair of freshmen. Look for senior Andrew Duran to have his much anticipated breakout campaign. The national Player of the Year in high school, Duran was slowed by injuries in his first two seasons and started seven of 14 matches as a junior last year. His ability and experience will make him an option in the back and midfield.
Another senior who could find himself in a defensive role is Sergio Castillo. Often overlooked, Castillo has been a steady presence for the Bluejays over the past three seasons, starting 41 of his 52 career appearances as a defensive midfielder. His hard-nosed, ball-winning mentality could work well in a right back role.
Sophomore Brent Kallman may move into the middle of the defense, after being thrust into a starting defensive midfield role as a rookie last year. He earned MVC All-Freshman Team notice as he started seven of the 13 matches he appeared in last year, after Greg Jordan went down with injury.
Transfer Jace Peters brings experience to the back, after starting for two seasons at nearby Doane College. An all-conference honoree at the NAIA program, his ability to adjust to Creighton's program will determine his playing time.
A pair of Nebraska freshmen will also hope to impact the defense this year. Rookie Tyler Polak is one of the most heralded recruits in school history, as the Lincoln native has made 35 caps for the U-17 U.S. National Team and is a member of the U-20 National Team Pool. A left back, he will look to transfer his experience in international play to the collegiate level. Creighton Prep graduate Joe Branstetter is another good local talent the Bluejays will look to develop this year.
Jordan, the anchor to the Bluejay midfield, is back this year after missing all but two games last year. The sophomore received a medical redshirt in 2009 after tearing his ACL in Creighton's second game of the season. His ability to patrol the middle as a defender and distribute the ball going forward will again be a key to Creighton's success.
Senior Josh Moran returns to the midfield after leading the team with five assists in his first year with the Jays last year. His successful first season earned him a second-team all-MVC nod and raised expectations for him this year.
Junior Kris Clark was slowed by injuries last year, starting half of the 12 matches he played in. After offseason surgery, the Bluejays hope the speedy midfielder can again be a reliable contributor in the middle.
Four newcomers will push for playing time, headed up by sophomore transfer Jose Gomez. The midfielder has shown to be a creative player capable of unlocking defenses with his passing, as proven by leading Cal State Fullerton in assists as a freshman in 2008.
Freshmen Nick Golden, Nick Goo and Felipe Navarro all hope to impress enough to get on the pitch. Golden was a high school All-American at Washburn Rural in Topeka, Kan. Goo was the Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior. Navarro, who joined the team for spring practice, was the State Cup MVP in Missouri his senior season.
The talented forward pair of junior Ethan Finlay and sophomore Dion Acoff are poised to lead an offensive surge for the Bluejays this fall. Finlay, a first-team all-conference and all-region performer as a sophomore, has been tabbed to the preseason Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List this year. The Wisconsin native is Creighton's active leader with 14 goals, seven assists and 35 points, while nine of his 14 career tallies have been game-winners. He dominated the spring season and he will be expected to shoulder a lot of the offensive production for the Bluejays again this year.
Acoff was the 2009 MVC Freshman of the Year, after ranking second on the squad in assists. The lightning-quick attacker, who could also play in the midfield, showed flashes of his potential last year and will need to have a bigger role in the offense this season.
Sophomore Andrew Ribeiro saw limited action as a freshman, but his size could make him a great target in the middle of the front line.
Freshmen Liam Kelly and Kennedy Spencer will also contribute to the attack this fall. Kelly, a member of the U-20 Canadian National Team Pool, was one of the nation's leading academy scorers this summer, playing with the Crossfire Premier Academy. Spencer, another Hawaiian, was an ESPN Rise All-American and a school record-setting sprinter.
Coach Clark inherits one of the most challenging schedules in the country, as some preseason polls have the Bluejays playing six nationally ranked teams this year, including three in the top-six. Including 2009 NCAA runner-up Akron, the Bluejays face seven teams which advanced to the NCAA postseason a year ago. The Jays also welcome Central Arkansas and SIU Edwardsville as MVC soccer affiliate members. Creighton's schedule will no doubt put their RPI in position to earn an NCAA at-large bid if successful. Should they falter in the regular-season, the State Farm MVC Tournament will be hosted by Bradley in Peoria, Ill., this season, as the Jays could lock up The Valley's automatic bid with their record 12th MVC Tournament title.
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