Finlay Scores Game-Winner in Overtime as No. 16 Bluejays Top Wisconsin

OMAHA, Neb. - Wisconsin native Ethan Finlay scored the game-winning goal in the 96th minute to lead the 16th-ranked Creighton Bluejays to a 1-0 win over the Wisconsin Badgers Friday night at Morrison Stadium. The Bluejays, who controlled play throughout and had put two shots on goal just minutes earlier in overtime, improve to 6-1-0 with their second straight overtime victory in their third straight overtime contest.

The game-winner came after the Bluejays had two fantastic chances turned away just minutes prior. In the 93rd minute, Sergio Castillo blasted a shot from beyond 20 yards that Wisconsin goalkeeper Ryan Vint had to make a diving play to save. Castillo's rebound found the foot of Kris Clark who sent a shot on goal, but Aaron Nichols made a team save with Vint still down from the previous shot, to keep the match scoreless.

Creighton continued to pressure the Badgers and created their scoring opportunity off of their 10th corner kick of the contest. Wisconsin appeared to have cleared the Jose Gomez corner kick, but Castillo managed to keep the ball in CU's possession, sending it in the air near the top of the 18 yard box. The Jays then sent it forward through a pack of UW defenders, where Clark was able to flip a header pass to Finlay. Finlay's low shot bounced in the air off of a defender as it went toward the net, but dropped in just under the cross bar for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Finlay, a Marshfield, Wis., native, now has 11 career game-winning goals among his 19 career scores.

"We played against one of the best defensive teams in the country tonight," said head coach Jamie Clark after the overtime win. "We never lost our composure however and kept our discipline and believed if we stayed with it we'd come away with a win. It just turned out we needed overtime to get it."

Creighton peppered the Wisconsin (1-5-1) goal early and often in the match, as the Bluejays out-shot the Badger 9-3 in the opening 45 minutes. The Jays also attempted six corner kicks in the first half, but were unable to put away either of their first-half shots on goal - one coming on a Greg Jordan header and the other on a Dion Acoff attempt.

For the contest, the Jays out-shot the Badgers 18-5 and attempted 10 corners to four by the visitors. UW's Vint had to make eight saves to keep his Badgers in the match.

Wisconsin, which had a fair scoring chance in the 39th minute, attempting two close range shots which were blocked by Kyle Deremer, did not manage its lone shot on goal in the match until the 87th minute.

The shutout, which came in front of 2,862 fans, was Creighton's fifth in seven matches this season and Brian Holt's fourth solo clean sheet. Holt has now logged 24 career shutouts in 42 starts.

The 16th-ranked Bluejays will open Missouri Valley Conference play next Friday when they continue their four-game homestand. Eastern Illinois will travel to Omaha for the final time as an MVC affiliate soccer member next week. Kickoff for the MVC opener at Morrison Stadium is set for 7 p.m., on Oct. 1.

Finlay Scores Game-Winner in Overtime as No. 16 Bluejays Top Wisconsin

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Players Mentioned

Dion Acoff

Sergio Castillo

Kris Clark

Kyle Deremer

Ethan Finlay

Jose Gomez

Brian Holt

Greg Jordan