Creighton University
Notre Dame (Ex.)
No. 10 Men's Soccer Ties No. 12 Notre Dame 2-2
8/22/2011 9:16:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Jose Gomez scored a pair of goals as the 10th-ranked Creighton men's soccer team played to a 2-2 draw at 12th-ranked Notre Dame Monday night in the Bluejays' second and final exhibition match of the season. Gomez scored in the first half on a penalty kick and scored again in the 76th minute, but the Bluejays surrendered a goal in the 84th minute and would finish tied with the Fighting Irish.
The match was scoreless until the Bluejays were awarded a penalty kick in the 33rd minute. Gomez stepped up and put the ball in the back of the net to give the Bluejays the lead following an Irish foul in the box.
The Fighting Irish were then returned the favor when a foul was called against the Bluejays in the box in the final minute of the first half. Notre Dame's Brendan King buried his penalty kick attempt with exactly one minute remaining in the opening half and the team's went to the break tied at 1-1.
In the second half, the Bluejays came out aggressive and created scoring chances, with Gomez finally converting one of those chances in the 76th minute. The junior slid the ball home from inside the six-yard area off of a pass from freshman Eric Miller and the Bluejays were again ahead of the Irish.
With a bulk of Creighton's starters off the pitch late in the match, the Irish scored the equalizer in the 84th minute and the match ended after 90 minutes tied at 2-2.
"All in all, this was a very positive trip for us," said Bluejay head coach Elmar Bolowich after the match concluded a two-match, four-day road trip for his new team. "I thought we played very well in parts of both of our matches. We played two very strong opponents away from home and it was a long trip, but I thought we held up very well throughout it. Having come away with no losses on this trip reflects well on what we can take from it."
The Bluejays outshot the Irish 11-5 and again proved dangerous on offense despite missing MAC Hermann Trophy candidate, All-American forward Ethan Finlay and fellow all-Missouri Valley Conference forward Dion Acoff. Finlay led the MVC in goals and points last year, while Acoff led the league in assists.
Creighton will open the regular-season on the road this Saturday night when it plays at Denver.
