Creighton University
15-0-0, 6-0-0
Villanova
7-7-0, 2-4-0
Men's Soccer Dominates Villanova in 5-1 Win
10/24/2015 10:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Omaha, Neb. - After falling behind early, the No. 1 Creighton men's soccer team dominated Villanova with five consecutive goals as the Bluejays earned a 5-1 victory on Saturday, Oct. 24 in front of a crowd of 4,223.
The win, which came on Senior Night for Creighton, pushed the Bluejays to 15-0-0 on the season and 6-0-0 in BIG EAST play, while Villanova fell to 7-7-0 overall and 2-4-0 in conference action.
Prior to the match, Creighton honored the contributions and playing careers of its six outgoing seniors: Fernando Castellanos, Eric DeJulio, Vincent Keller, Mike Paye, Timo Pitter, and Connor Sparrow.
Villanova struck first as Padraic McCullaugh headed in a cross from the top of the box in the 12th minute of play. Miguel Polley collected the assist on the play, sending the pass to the six-foot-six McCaullagh.
Falling behind provided a spark for Creighton as Joel Rydstrand scored a 13th-minute goal assisted by Castellanos and Fabian Herbers. The goal, Rystrand's second career goal, was his second in as many games.
Creighton found the back of the net again 10 minutes later when Ricardo Perez sent a booming kick from 30 yards out past Villanova keeper Will Steiner.
The Bluejays added two more goals before intermission, tying their single-season high of four goals even before halftime.
A frontrunner for the Hermann Trophy, Herbers scored his BIG EAST-leading 12th goal of the season in the 31st minute off an assist by Noah Franke. Herbers, the nation's leading point scorer (33), has recorded a point in 14 of Creighton's 15 wins.
Peter Prescott scored his first career goal less than four minutes later, scoring off of an Evan Waldrep corner kick in the 34th minute.
Perez added another goal in the 72nd minute, marking his first career multi-goal game. Waldrep and Herbers assisted on the play.
With its five-goal effort, Creighton became the nation's leader for total goals (37).
Creighton's five goals were a season-high, as were its 39 shots.
Breaking another record, Pitter set the Morrison Stadium record for shots in a single game with 11. With his start on Saturday night, Pitter moved ahead of Jose Ribas for most matches played in Morrison Stadium facility history (48).
The Bluejays return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 28 as Creighton hosts Xavier in the final regular season home game at 7:00 pm.
Team Stats
MCCULLAUGH, Padraic (5)
Assisted By: POLLEY, Miguel
Cross from left side to 20 just inside b
11:05
RYDSTRAND, Joel (2)
Assisted By: CASTELLANOS,Fernando , HERBERS, Fabian
Through ball from middle 30 yards to CU6
12:26
PEREZ, Ricardo (2)
Booming kick from just left of mid, 30 y
22:48
HERBERS, Fabian (12)
Assisted By: FRANKE, Noah
Give and go atop the box
30:06
PRESCOTT, Peter (1)
Assisted By: WALDREP, Evan
Header set up by corner kick from right
33:57
PEREZ, Ricardo (3)
Assisted By: WALDREP, Evan , HERBERS, Fabian
GOAL by CU PEREZ, Ricardo, Assist by WALDREP, Evan and HERBERS, Fabian, goal number 3 for season.
71:15
