No.2 Jays Host Creighton Invitational
9/12/2012 6:29:00 PM | Men's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. - No. 2 Creighton is hosting Drake, No. 14 Old Dominion and William & Mary in the first Creighton Invitational on Friday, Sept. 14 and Sunday, 16.
Friday, Sept. 14
William & Mary vs. Drake at 5 p.m.
No. 14 Old Dominion vs. No. 2 Creighton at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 16
No. 14 Old Dominion vs. Drake at 11:30 a.m.
William & Mary vs. No. 2 Creighton at 2:30 p.m.
Scouting the No. 2 Creighton Bluejays (4-0-1):
The Creighton Bluejays are riding high following back-to-back 1-0 wins over Santa Clara (Sept. 7) and Saint Mary's (Sept. 9) last weekend on the road. The Bluejays moved back to No. 2 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll on Tuesday, Sept. 11.
This week the Jays host the first Creighton Invitational Tournament, welcoming Drake, No. 14 Old Dominion and William & Mary to Morrison Stadium.
Creighton opens the weekend with No. 14 Old Dominion on Friday, Sept. 14, then will battle William & Mary on Sunday, Sept. 16.
Creighton is riding a number of streaks as they enter play in the Creighton Invitational. The Jays have posted three consecutive shutouts and are in the midst of a 17-match unbeaten streak. In addition, Creighton has not lost at Morrison Stadium since 2010 an 18-match unbeaten streak.
The Bluejays have split time in goal in 2012 as sophomore Alex Bolowich has made three starts, while freshman Jeff Gal has two starts. This marks the first time since 2004 that
multiple athletes have made more than one start in the net for the Jays.
Offensively the Jays have spread things out in the early going, nine players have scored this season. Junior Sean Kim leads Creighton with three goals and six points, but freshman Christian Blandon is closing in with five points (two goals and one assist). Blandon's production has been particularly precise as he has two goals on just three shots.
Scouting the Drake Bulldogs (1-4-1):
The Drake Bulldogs will not face the Jays in the Creighton Invitational, but the Bulldogs and Bluejays will meet on Sept. 29 in Des Moines, Iowa. The Bulldogs played one of their better matches of the season on Sunday, Sept. 9, earning a 1-1 draw at Northern Illinois. Despite its 1-4-1 record, the Bulldogs have been in every match, suffering three one goal defeats.
Drake's offense is led by senior Michael Thaden and junior Addision Eck, who share the team lead with four points. Thaden has two goals on the season, while Eck has one goal and two assists.
Junior Rich Gallagher has been in net for Drake in all six matches, posting a 1.28 Goals Against Average (GAA).
Scouting No. 14 Old Dominion (4-0-0):
Off to an unblemished start in 2012, the Monarchs took down Seton Hall (6-0 on Sept. 7) and Winthrop (3-2 on Sept. 9) last weekend. Old Dominion also defeated No. 25 Central Florida, 2-0, on Sept. 1 in their only road contest of the year.
Old Dominion senior Victor Francoz has started every match for the Monarchs in goal. On the season he has a 0.51 GAA and has made seven saves.
Junior Tim Hopkins has been a force for the Monarchs offensively, scoring five goals and dishing out four assists for a team-high 14 points. Senior Chris Harmon has equally been lethal near the net, notching four goals and one assist in 2012.
Scouting the William & Mary Tribe (1-2-1):
William & Mary dropped its only contest last week, suffering a 2-1 loss at St. John's on Sept. 8. The Tribe's lone victory of the season came on Sept. 1, a 3-0 win over Richmond.
Sophomore Bennett Jones has been in goal for the Tribe this season, allowing just four goals in four matches, a 0.95 GAA.
Although Jones has done the job in net this season, the Tribe have struggled to find offense, scoring only four goals. Senior Ben Anderson has a team-leading four points (one goal and two assists) for the Tribe this season, Anderson's goal proved to be the game-winner against Winthrop.
