No. 1 Men's Soccer Hosts Tulsa For Homecoming on Saturday
9/16/2015 11:44:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Game 6 • Saturday, Sept. 19 • Tulsa at #1 Creighton • Omaha, Neb. (Morrison Stadium) • 7:00 pm
Up Next
Top-ranked Creighton Men's Soccer (5-0-0) hosts former Missouri Valley Conference rival Tulsa (3-2-1) on Saturday night as part of the school's annual Homecoming game.
Saturday's game will kick off at 7 pm and take place at Michael G. Morrison, S.J., Stadium (capacity 7,500).
Follow The Match
Saturday's game will have a free high-definition video webcast via Jays Video. To access the feed, click on the TV screen icon on the top right corner of GoCreighton.com.
Live stats of the match will be available at http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com.
Getting Blue Block Party on Saturday
“Getting Blue” is a tradition of community and food in an effort to create a “Blue Out” for home games. A “Getting Blue” Block Party will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 4:30-7:30 p.m., in conjunction with Homecoming festivities as well as Alumni Weekend events, the volleyball match against Wisconsin (1:00 p.m., first-serve) and the men's soccer match against Tulsa (7:00 p.m., kick-off).
Students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and fans are all invited to attend. The event will be held outside Morrison Stadium on the south lawn adjacent to the venue's main entrance (rain location is the Brandeis dining hall). Cost is $9.50 for adults and $4.75 for kids (ages 11 and younger). Entrée's will include hamburgers, brats, hot dogs and veggie burgers along with pasta salad, chips, watermelon, lemonade, water and soft drinks.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton is 5-0-0 on the season after wins over Michigan (1-0), Milwaukee (4-0), CSUN (2-1), No. 13 UC Irvine (4-0) and Michigan State (1-0). The Bluejays return eight starters and 13 lettermen from last year's team that won the BIG EAST Conference regular-season title, advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals and finished last season ranked No. 7 in the year-end NSCAA poll.
Creighton returns 30 of its 32 goals from last year, including each of its top six scorers. The Bluejays also return 24-of-30 assists from a year ago, and all but five minutes of the nearly 2,044 minutes in goal from last season.
Junior Fabian Herbers (5g, 3a this year) earned First Team All-America accolades and BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year honors after a magnificent 2014 season. He led the conference with 28 points, was second in the league with four game-winning goals, and third in both goals (10) and assists (8). Herbers is also a standout in the classroom and was a Third Team CoSIDA Academic All-American last year.
Senior Timo Pitter (2g this year) paced the league in assists (9), shots (75) and shots on goal (36) during a 2014 campaign that saw him add Second Team All-America plaudits. Pitter was also named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year in 2014.
Senior goalkeeper Connor Sparrow (0.21 GAA this year) returns in net after ranking second nationally in goals against average (0.49) and 10th in save percentage (.841) a year ago. Sparrow's career 0.43 goals against average as a Bluejay is the best in Creighton history among goalies with at least 2,000 minutes in net.
Scouting Tulsa
Tulsa is 3-2-1 this fall, including an 0-2-1 mark against ranked teams. The Golden Hurricane own victories over Sacramento State (2-1), Oral Roberts (6-2) and Portland (3-2 in OT), a tie at No. 2 Virginia (1-1) and losses to No. 22 Saint Louis (1-0 in 2OT) and at No. 4 North Carolina (2-1).
Tulsa has nine different goal scorers, with Juan Sanchez (2g, 2a) leading the team in points. Miguel Velasquez, Cameron Drackett and Bradley Bourgeois have also scored twice, as well. Bourgeois was named the American Athletic Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Jake McGuire (1.27 GAA) has played all but nine minutes in net for TU.
Tulsa return six starters and 13 lettermen from a team that went 11-6-3 and reached the NCAA Tournament and placed second in the American Athletic Conference.
Series History vs. Tulsa
Creighton is 16-9-3 all-time vs. Tulsa, including a 10-2-1 mark in Omaha and a 4-1-1 mark at Morrison Stadium.
Last year's Tulsa team tied Creighton, 1-1 in Tulsa, after Creighton had started the season 4-0-0.
Elmar Bolowich is 1-1-1 on the Bluejay sideline against Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane are one of three teams (along with Saint Louis and Providence) that Bolowich has faced three or more times at CU but does not have a winning record against.
We're No. 1, We're No. 1
For the second straight week, Creighton is ranked first nationally in the NSCAA, Top Drawer Soccer, Soccer America and College Soccer News polls this week. It's the ninth time in program history the coaches have voted CU to the top spot.
Creighton was ranked No. 1 the final five weeks of the 1993 season by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America.
Since the NSCAA poll became the poll of record in 1996, Creighton has been No. 1 for one week each on Sept. 15, 1999 and Sept. 10, 2013. CU moved into the top spot in this year's NSCAA poll on Sept. 8 poll and has remained there since.
During Creighton's 2013 stint atop the poll, the Bluejays lost 3-2 in double-overtime vs. William & Mary to drop to fifth, and would actually end the season unranked.
Below is a list of the last time the Bluejays were ranked No. 1 by each organization before this season:
NSCAA - Sept. 10, 2013
Soccer America - Oct. 21, 2014
College Soccer News - Nov. 11, 2014
Top Drawer Soccer - Oct. 21, 2014
At Home, Ranked First, At Last
Saturday will be Creighton's first home game as the nation's No. 1 team since a Nov. 14, 1993 four-overtime loss to Air Force.
Creighton is 5-1-0 all-time when playing at home as the nation's top club, losing only that game to Air Force 21 years ago.
Since then, Creighton has played five games as the nation's No. 1 team, all at road or neutral venues, and has gone 3-1-1 in those contests.
High 5-0-0
Creighton is off to a 5-0-0 start. It's the first time since the program's 2011 College Cup team that it won its first five games, and seventh time in program history.
Notably, each of the last three Creighton teams to win its first five games went on to reach the College Cup.
5-0-0 Starts or Better
Year Start First Non-Win Postseason
2015 5-0-0* ??? ???
2011 8-0-0 at #3 Maryland College Cup
2000 6-0-0 #18 Marquette College Cup
1996 6-0-0 #8 Wisconsin College Cup
1993 19-0-0 Air Force NCAA 1st Rd.
1990 7-0-0 Drake None
1979 5-0-0 at S. Dakota State None
*active
Unbeaten, Untied
Creighton is one of six teams that are unbeaten and tied through games of Sept. 16th, and one of just four who have played five games or more.
Below is a list of the nation's other unbeaten and untied teams:
Team W-L-T Next Match
Brown 3-0-0 at Georgia State, 9/18
Columbia 3-0-0 at Delaware, 9/19
#1 Creighton 5-0-0 Tulsa, 9/19
#20 Elon 6-0-0 Drexel, 9/18
#8 Oregon State 5-0-0 at Portland, 9/17
Western Michigan 5-0-0 Dayton, 9/20
Herbers Earns National Honor
Fabian Herbers was named the National Player of the Week by College Soccer News for his role in a 1-0 win at Michigan State last week.
It was the first time in his career he's been named the National Player of the Week by CSN, and second time in three weeks he's been named to their National Team of the Week.
Keller Repeats Defensive Honor
Vincent Keller repeated the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week accolade on Monday when the league office recognized him for his work in last Sunday's win at Michigan State.
Keller played a key role in helping Creighton remain unbeaten in a 1-0 win at Michigan State. The Spartans managed just one shot on goal, its fewest in a home game since Nov. 3, 2010, as they were shut out at home for just the second time since Nov. 6, 2013.
It was the second straight BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honor for the Bluejay co-captain, and second such honor of his career.
He Keeps Going And Going
Fabian Herbers owns at least one point (a goal or an assist) in each of Creighton's first five games this fall.
He's the first Bluejay to start a season in such fashion since Jose Gomez in 2012. Gomez went on to be second runner-up for the MAC Hermann Trophy Award, given to college soccer's best player. Gomez did it in six straight games to open his senior campaign.
Pitter Nears Another Morrison Mark
Timo Pitter has attempted 140 shots in his career at Morrison Stadium, one shy of the all-time mark held by Ethan Finlay from 2008-11.
Earlier this year Pitter broke the stadium record for career shots on goal, passing the 66 by Finlay.
Pitter is also second in Morrison Stadium history in career goals and points, trailing Finlay in both categories.
First Minute Goals vs. Tulsa
Creighton's two quickest goals ever scored at Morrison Stadium have both come against Tulsa.
Andrei Gotsmanov scored just 36 seconds into the game in a Nov. 25, 2008 NCAA Tournament match that was won by the Bluejays, 2-1.
Two years later, Ethan Finlay scored after 41 seconds on Oct. 5, 2010. That game turned out to be a 3-1 CU victory.
Below is a list of the quickest goals in Creighton soccer history, with Morrison Stadium scores in bold italic.
Time Player, Opponent Date
0:16 Brian Kamler vs. Bradley 10-09-92
0:26 Vince Odorisio vs. UCLA 09-10-14
0:30 Lance Hill at Missouri State 11-05-94
0:34 Johnny Torres at Bradley 10-06-95
0:36 Andrei Gotsmanov vs. Tulsa 11-25-08
0:41 Ethan Finlay vs. Tulsa 10-05-10
0:43 Ethan Finlay vs. SIU Edwardsville 10-30-10
Keller & Pitter Up For Senior Class Award
Vincent Keller and Timo Pitter are among 30 men's soccer student-athletes who excel both on and off the field that were selected as candidates for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate soccer.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Pitter is one of four men (along with CSU Bakersfield's Christian Duarte, Cal Poly's Chase Minter and Stanford's Brandon Vincent) who are also on the preseason watch list for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, which recognizes the top player in collegiate soccer. Outside of academics and athletics, all candidates also have been consistently involved in community service on their campus or in their communities.
The candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2015 NCAA Men's and Women's College Cup® championships in December.
Former Creighton goalkeeper Brian Holt won the 2011 Senior CLASS Award on the pitch, while ex-Creighton men's basketball standout Doug McDermott won the 2014 Senior CLASS Award on the hardwood.
BIG EAST Honors Keller & Sparrow
Capping its second straight 2-0-0 weekend, seniors Vincent Keller and Connor Sparrow showed their defensive mettle earning the BIG EAST Defensive and Goalkeeper of the Week honors on Monday, Sept. 7.
After allowing the first goal of the season in the second minute of play (1:31), Keller and the Creighton defense stiffened to hold the Matadors without a shot for the remaining 88:29. Keller got in on the offense as well; the senior defender assisted the game-tying goal against Cal State in the 58th minute. Two days later, Keller was an instrumental part of a Creighton defense that shut out No. 13 UC-Irvine, limiting the Anteaters to two first half shots and just eight overall.
Following the lead of his defensive center back, Sparrow limited the damage of the goal by Cal State Northridge in the second minute by holding the Matadors scoreless the rest of the way. He went on to blank No. 13 UC-Irvine for more than 74 minutes before giving way in the Bluejays' 4-0 win. Sparrow notched three saves during the weekend. It was Sparrow's second straight Goalkeeper of the Week accolade.
A Big Win Over A Big-Time Team
Creighton's 4-0 win over No. 13 UC Irvine on Sept. 6 was its largest margin of victory against a ranked team since a 4-0 win versus No. 23 Tulsa on Oct. 3, 2004.
Creighton's last win by four or more goals against a top-20 team had been a 6-2 victory over No. 6 Boston College on Dec. 8, 2002.
Road Openers Have Gone Well
Creighton's 1-0 win at Michigan State improved the Bluejays to 8-0-1 in its last nine road openers, including a 4-0-1 mark under Elmar Bolowich. Last year's 1-1 tie at Tulsa is the only blemish.
The last time Creighton lost a road opener came on Aug. 25, 2006, a 1-0 loss at No. 12 Indiana.
Sunday Funday
Creighton is 21-1-1 on Sunday's under Elmar Bolowich. CU was 4-0-0 on the day last season, and its only loss on a Sunday under Bolowich came vs. William & Mary (3-2 in double-OT) during the 2013 campaign.
Creighton has outscored the opposition 47-10 in those Sunday games.
Top 10 Preseason Jays, Again
Creighton was ranked sixth nationally in the preseason edition of the NSCAA Top 25 Coaches poll.
This was the fourth time in the last five years the Bluejays have been ranked in the top-10 of the preseason poll, and 11th time since 1998.
Creighton has now spent at least one week in the top 10 of the NSCAA poll in each of the last 24 seasons.
Herbers Play Gets Noticed
Fabian Herbers was a First Team All-American last year, and the junior picked up where he left off as the forward was named to College Soccer News' National Team of the Week on Aug. 31 and the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week on Sept. 1. He repeated his honor from Top Drawer Soccer on Sept. 8 with two goals and two assists in two wins. Herbers earned recognition for a third straight week when he was named the National Player of the Week by College Soccer News on Sept. 14.
Herbers has tallied at least one point in every game this year and has scored in all but one contest.
His five points against No. 13 UC Irvine on Sept. 6 were a personal high, and the most by a Bluejay since Ethan Finlay had six points on Oct. 15, 2011, also against UC Irvine.
In addition, Herbers performance vs. UC Irvine included his second career multiple-game as a Bluejay. Twelve times in his 44 career contests he's scored the first goal of the game for either team.
In seven games against outside competition this fall (two exhibtions, five regular-season games), Herbers owns seven goals and seven assists:
Opponent Goals Assists Final Score
at Bradley (Ex.) 1 2 W 3-0
Northwestern (Ex.) 1 2 W 5-0
Michigan 1 0 W 1-0
Milwaukee 1 1 W 4-0
CSUN 0 1 W 2-1
#13 UC Irvine 2 1 W 4-0
at Michigan State 1 0 W 1-0
Total (7 games) 7 7 CU 20-1
Dynamic Duo
Timo Pitter and Fabian Herbers form one of the nation's top offensive duos, and the numbers continue to bear that out.
Either Pitter or Herbers has scored or assisted on 32 of Creighton's 44 goals since the start of the 2014 season, including 24-of-32 tallies a year ago.
That pair have combined for 23 goals and 20 assists in that span. Nine of those 23 goals have been assisted by the other half of their star duo.
Weekly Awards
Connor Sparrow was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week on Aug. 31 after a posting a pair of shutouts during the opening weekend. It was the fourth such honor of his Creighton career, and second straight season he's won the honor following the opening weekend of the fall. He won his fifth career honor from the BIG EAST on Sept. 7th after allowing just one goal in wins on Sept. 4 & 6.
In 21 career starts in a Bluejay uniform at Morrison Stadium, Sparrow has allowed just one first half goal.
Ethan Finlay, All-Star
Former Creighton All-American Ethan Finlay is having a splendid summer.
Finlay entered the week third in the MLS with 13 assists to go with eight goals in 29 games with the Columbus Crew this year.
Earlier this summer, Finlay played in the MLS All-Star Game.
Finlay played at Creighton from 2008-11, leading the Bluejays to a pair of College Cups before being 10th overall in the 2012 MLS Super Draft.
Jays Favored In Preseason BIG EAST Poll
Creighton and Georgetown tied for first in the preseason BIG EAST poll that was released on Aug. 18th. Both teams had 77 points and five first-place votes in the poll.
GK Connor Sparrow, M Timo Pitter and F Fabian Herbers were each named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Pitter was a unanimous selection, while Sparrow was named BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
This is the eighth time in the last 11 years, and 15th time since 1990, that Creighton has been picked to win its league in the preseason.
Perennial Power
Creighton won the program's first BIG EAST title last season when it claimed the regular-season crown with a 7-1-1 mark.
The Bluejays now own 13 regular-season and 13 conference tournament titles in program history, all since 1992.
Another Strong Class
College Soccer News has dubbed Creighton's recruiting class as the nation's 31st best. Among the newcomers the website highlights are Evan Waldrep, Jacob Rooth and Peter Prescott.
Top 10 Crowds
Creighton finished last season 10th nationally in average home attendance and fifth overall in total home attendance.
It was the 11th straight season the Bluejays have finished in the top-10 nationally in average home attendance.
Creighton is currently averaging 3,580 fans through four home dates, which ranks seventh nationally through games of Sept. 14. CU is also third with 14,319 total home fans.
The 4,838 fans for Michigan on Aug. 28 ranked as the largest crowd in school history to witness a season-opener, while the crowd of 4,907 vs. CSUN on Sept. 4 was the program's largest crowd since 2012.
Herbers & Pitter Earn Preseason Acclaim
Fabian Herbers and Timo Pitter have both been recognized nationally in the preseason. Both men are among the 30 players on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Creighton is one of six schools with two players on the list, joining Charlotte, CSU Bakersfield, Georgetown, Kentucky and Stanford.
Top Drawer Soccer also honored Herbers and Pitter on their Preseason Best XI Teams. Herbers was a first-team pick at forward, while Pitter was a second-teamer as a midfielder.
College Soccer News also acknowledged Herbers and Pitter on its Preseason All-America Teams. Herbers was a first-team choice at forward, while Pitter was a second-team midfielder.
Top 100 Trio
Fabian Herbers, Timo Pitter and Connor Sparrow all earned a spot on Top Drawer Soccer's Preseason Top 100 list of the nation's top players. Herbers checked in at No. 5, while Pitter (No. 18) and Sparrow (No. 74) made the Bluejays one of eight teams nationally with three players in the top-75.
Sparrow A Rare Bird
Senior GK Connor Sparrow remains Creighton's all-time leader in goals against average, allowing just 0.43 goals per 90 minutes in a Bluejay uniform.
Sparrow's numbers are even more impressive at home, where he owns a 0.37 GAA in a Creighton uniform at Morrison Stadium.
Of the 14 goals that Sparrow has allowed as a Bluejay, only two have come prior to halftime.
Sparrow has moved into fourth place on Creighton's all-time leaders in winning percentage with a .781 win percentage (23-5-4). He can move into third place, past Jon Epperson (.782), with a victory on Saturday vs. Tulsa.
Tough 2015 Slate
The Bluejays' 2015 schedule features five regular-season contests against teams that were nationally-ranked in the preseason NSCAA poll, as CU meets No. 3 Georgetown, No. 7 Providence, No. 9 Michigan State, No. 19 Xavier and No. 20 UC Irvine.
Creighton also has a game vs. Tulsa and won an exhibition vs. Northwestern, two teams that were listed among those 'also receiving votes.”
All told, Creighton's 2015 schedule will see
it face nine teams that finished last year in the top 55 of the RPI, including five games against teams that reached the Sweet 16.
Bolowich Keeps CU Winning
Creighton ranks second nationally with 68 wins in the last five years, which coincides with the arrival of head coach Elmar Bolowich. Bolowich was named BIG EAST Co-Coach of the Year last season after helping the Bluejays to a league title.
Below is a list of the nation's most wins since Bolowich arrived before the 2011 season, through games of Sept. 15, 2015.
2011-14 2015 Total Next
Rk. Team Wins Wins Wins Game
1. Coastal Carolina 73 4 77 9/21
2. Creighton 63 5 68 9/19
3. Akron 63 4 67 9/16
Maryland 64 3 67 9/18
5. North Carolina 61 4 65 9/18
You Play To Win The Game
Creighton's 16-3-3 record last year led the nation in winning percentage (.795). The Bluejays were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament after falling in penalty kicks vs. UMBC during the team's 10th appearance in the national quarterfinals in the last 19 years.
So Close
Each of Creighton's last 14 losses have been by a single goal, including every setback in 2013 and 2014.
Creighton has fallen behind by two goals just four times in 95 games under Elmar Bolowich, and lost by two goals just twice.
Streaks To Watch
Creighton is 38-0-2 under Elmar Bolowich when leading at halftime.
Creighton is 19-0-1 in its last 20 games when scoring first, and 59-3-2 under Bolowich.
Creighton has trailed at the half in just one of its last 28 games (1-0 vs. CSUN on Sept. 4, 2015).
Creighton is 13-0-0 in home matches under Bolowich that kickoff prior to 6 pm.
Creighton Soccer's European Vacation
Creighton spent nearly two weeks in Europe in early July, spending most of that time in Germany and Austria. The team went 2-2-0 against strong competition, but also bonded in a foreign culture that included trips Neuschwanstein Castle, Allianz Arena and Munich's Olympic Stadium, among other areas.
O Captain! My Captain!
Seniors Vincent Keller and Eric DeJulio have been named captains on this year's team. Both men started all 22 games a season ago for Creighton's BIG EAST champion club.
2015 Creighton Outlook
Expectations for 2015 are sky-high for a Creighton program that went 16-3-3 and led the nation in winning percentage a year ago en route to its first BIG EAST regular-season title.
A top-notch recruiting class helps support the return of eight starters, including the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year (Fabian Herbers) and the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year (Timo Pitter) for fifth-year head coach Elmar Bolowich, last year's BIG EAST Coach of the Year. In all, 30-of-32 goals scored and all but five goalkeeping minutes return to a program that seeks a sixth College Cup appearance in the past 20 seasons.
Herbers earned First Team All-America accolades and top honors from the BIG EAST after a magnificent sophomore season. He led the conference with 28 points, was second in the league with four game-winning goals, and third in both goals (10) and assists (8).
Pitter paced the league in assists (9), shots (75) and shots on goal (36) during a junior campaign that saw him add Second Team All-America plaudits.
The Jays also boast four other returners who scored multiple times in 2014. Midfielder Lucas Stauffer had four goals and a pair of assists to earn a spot on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team, while classmate Ricky Lopez-Espin was one of the nation's most impressive freshmen before a knee injury in early October ended his season prematurely.
Helping to distribute in the midfield are junior Ricardo Perez and the sophomore duo of Fernando Castellanos and Noah Franke who combined for five goals and four assists a year ago.
The return of Myles Englis from injury, plus recruits like Joel Rystrand, Evan Waldrep and Bryce Gibson should give CU plenty of offensive firepower.
Creighton's defense figures to remain strong and experienced, as well, paced by the return of seniors Eric DeJulio, Mike Paye, Vincent Keller and Connor Sparrow. An influx of talented defenders, headed by Peter Prescott and Felix Kollmannthaler, will also contend for playing time.
Sparrow finished second nationally in goals against average (0.49 GAA) and 10th in save percentage (.841), allowing just 11 scores in 22 contests.
Impressively, Creighton allowed just one first half goal during the 2014 campaign.
DeJulio was the only Bluejay to play every minute last season, while Keller was nearly as durable, starting all 22 contests.
Creighton has annually played one of the top schedules in college soccer, and the 2015 campaign figures to be no different.
Half of Creighton's 18 opponents on the docket finished with top-55 RPI's nationally a year ago, including non-conference showdowns vs. Michigan State, UC Irvine, Tulsa and CSUN.
Creighton also faces a rigorous BIG EAST slate, which features the likes of Georgetown, Providence, Xavier and Marquette in a league that was tabbed third nationally in the final 2014 RPI.
Fueling expectations for Creighton was a foreign trip to Europe for two weeks in July.
While away, the team played against some top clubs from both Germany and Austria, finishing with a 2-2-0 record.
In addition to the extra competition, the team bonded off-the-field while adjusting a new culture and visiting many international landmarks such as Allianz Arena, Neuschwanstein Castle and the former Olympic Stadium in Munich.
Up Next
Top-ranked Creighton Men's Soccer (5-0-0) hosts former Missouri Valley Conference rival Tulsa (3-2-1) on Saturday night as part of the school's annual Homecoming game.
Saturday's game will kick off at 7 pm and take place at Michael G. Morrison, S.J., Stadium (capacity 7,500).
Follow The Match
Saturday's game will have a free high-definition video webcast via Jays Video. To access the feed, click on the TV screen icon on the top right corner of GoCreighton.com.
Live stats of the match will be available at http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com.
Getting Blue Block Party on Saturday
“Getting Blue” is a tradition of community and food in an effort to create a “Blue Out” for home games. A “Getting Blue” Block Party will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 4:30-7:30 p.m., in conjunction with Homecoming festivities as well as Alumni Weekend events, the volleyball match against Wisconsin (1:00 p.m., first-serve) and the men's soccer match against Tulsa (7:00 p.m., kick-off).
Students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and fans are all invited to attend. The event will be held outside Morrison Stadium on the south lawn adjacent to the venue's main entrance (rain location is the Brandeis dining hall). Cost is $9.50 for adults and $4.75 for kids (ages 11 and younger). Entrée's will include hamburgers, brats, hot dogs and veggie burgers along with pasta salad, chips, watermelon, lemonade, water and soft drinks.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton is 5-0-0 on the season after wins over Michigan (1-0), Milwaukee (4-0), CSUN (2-1), No. 13 UC Irvine (4-0) and Michigan State (1-0). The Bluejays return eight starters and 13 lettermen from last year's team that won the BIG EAST Conference regular-season title, advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals and finished last season ranked No. 7 in the year-end NSCAA poll.
Creighton returns 30 of its 32 goals from last year, including each of its top six scorers. The Bluejays also return 24-of-30 assists from a year ago, and all but five minutes of the nearly 2,044 minutes in goal from last season.
Junior Fabian Herbers (5g, 3a this year) earned First Team All-America accolades and BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year honors after a magnificent 2014 season. He led the conference with 28 points, was second in the league with four game-winning goals, and third in both goals (10) and assists (8). Herbers is also a standout in the classroom and was a Third Team CoSIDA Academic All-American last year.
Senior Timo Pitter (2g this year) paced the league in assists (9), shots (75) and shots on goal (36) during a 2014 campaign that saw him add Second Team All-America plaudits. Pitter was also named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year in 2014.
Senior goalkeeper Connor Sparrow (0.21 GAA this year) returns in net after ranking second nationally in goals against average (0.49) and 10th in save percentage (.841) a year ago. Sparrow's career 0.43 goals against average as a Bluejay is the best in Creighton history among goalies with at least 2,000 minutes in net.
Scouting Tulsa
Tulsa is 3-2-1 this fall, including an 0-2-1 mark against ranked teams. The Golden Hurricane own victories over Sacramento State (2-1), Oral Roberts (6-2) and Portland (3-2 in OT), a tie at No. 2 Virginia (1-1) and losses to No. 22 Saint Louis (1-0 in 2OT) and at No. 4 North Carolina (2-1).
Tulsa has nine different goal scorers, with Juan Sanchez (2g, 2a) leading the team in points. Miguel Velasquez, Cameron Drackett and Bradley Bourgeois have also scored twice, as well. Bourgeois was named the American Athletic Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Jake McGuire (1.27 GAA) has played all but nine minutes in net for TU.
Tulsa return six starters and 13 lettermen from a team that went 11-6-3 and reached the NCAA Tournament and placed second in the American Athletic Conference.
Series History vs. Tulsa
Creighton is 16-9-3 all-time vs. Tulsa, including a 10-2-1 mark in Omaha and a 4-1-1 mark at Morrison Stadium.
Last year's Tulsa team tied Creighton, 1-1 in Tulsa, after Creighton had started the season 4-0-0.
Elmar Bolowich is 1-1-1 on the Bluejay sideline against Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane are one of three teams (along with Saint Louis and Providence) that Bolowich has faced three or more times at CU but does not have a winning record against.
We're No. 1, We're No. 1
For the second straight week, Creighton is ranked first nationally in the NSCAA, Top Drawer Soccer, Soccer America and College Soccer News polls this week. It's the ninth time in program history the coaches have voted CU to the top spot.
Creighton was ranked No. 1 the final five weeks of the 1993 season by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America.
Since the NSCAA poll became the poll of record in 1996, Creighton has been No. 1 for one week each on Sept. 15, 1999 and Sept. 10, 2013. CU moved into the top spot in this year's NSCAA poll on Sept. 8 poll and has remained there since.
During Creighton's 2013 stint atop the poll, the Bluejays lost 3-2 in double-overtime vs. William & Mary to drop to fifth, and would actually end the season unranked.
Below is a list of the last time the Bluejays were ranked No. 1 by each organization before this season:
NSCAA - Sept. 10, 2013
Soccer America - Oct. 21, 2014
College Soccer News - Nov. 11, 2014
Top Drawer Soccer - Oct. 21, 2014
At Home, Ranked First, At Last
Saturday will be Creighton's first home game as the nation's No. 1 team since a Nov. 14, 1993 four-overtime loss to Air Force.
Creighton is 5-1-0 all-time when playing at home as the nation's top club, losing only that game to Air Force 21 years ago.
Since then, Creighton has played five games as the nation's No. 1 team, all at road or neutral venues, and has gone 3-1-1 in those contests.
High 5-0-0
Creighton is off to a 5-0-0 start. It's the first time since the program's 2011 College Cup team that it won its first five games, and seventh time in program history.
Notably, each of the last three Creighton teams to win its first five games went on to reach the College Cup.
5-0-0 Starts or Better
Year Start First Non-Win Postseason
2015 5-0-0* ??? ???
2011 8-0-0 at #3 Maryland College Cup
2000 6-0-0 #18 Marquette College Cup
1996 6-0-0 #8 Wisconsin College Cup
1993 19-0-0 Air Force NCAA 1st Rd.
1990 7-0-0 Drake None
1979 5-0-0 at S. Dakota State None
*active
Unbeaten, Untied
Creighton is one of six teams that are unbeaten and tied through games of Sept. 16th, and one of just four who have played five games or more.
Below is a list of the nation's other unbeaten and untied teams:
Team W-L-T Next Match
Brown 3-0-0 at Georgia State, 9/18
Columbia 3-0-0 at Delaware, 9/19
#1 Creighton 5-0-0 Tulsa, 9/19
#20 Elon 6-0-0 Drexel, 9/18
#8 Oregon State 5-0-0 at Portland, 9/17
Western Michigan 5-0-0 Dayton, 9/20
Herbers Earns National Honor
Fabian Herbers was named the National Player of the Week by College Soccer News for his role in a 1-0 win at Michigan State last week.
It was the first time in his career he's been named the National Player of the Week by CSN, and second time in three weeks he's been named to their National Team of the Week.
Keller Repeats Defensive Honor
Vincent Keller repeated the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week accolade on Monday when the league office recognized him for his work in last Sunday's win at Michigan State.
Keller played a key role in helping Creighton remain unbeaten in a 1-0 win at Michigan State. The Spartans managed just one shot on goal, its fewest in a home game since Nov. 3, 2010, as they were shut out at home for just the second time since Nov. 6, 2013.
It was the second straight BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honor for the Bluejay co-captain, and second such honor of his career.
He Keeps Going And Going
Fabian Herbers owns at least one point (a goal or an assist) in each of Creighton's first five games this fall.
He's the first Bluejay to start a season in such fashion since Jose Gomez in 2012. Gomez went on to be second runner-up for the MAC Hermann Trophy Award, given to college soccer's best player. Gomez did it in six straight games to open his senior campaign.
Pitter Nears Another Morrison Mark
Timo Pitter has attempted 140 shots in his career at Morrison Stadium, one shy of the all-time mark held by Ethan Finlay from 2008-11.
Earlier this year Pitter broke the stadium record for career shots on goal, passing the 66 by Finlay.
Pitter is also second in Morrison Stadium history in career goals and points, trailing Finlay in both categories.
First Minute Goals vs. Tulsa
Creighton's two quickest goals ever scored at Morrison Stadium have both come against Tulsa.
Andrei Gotsmanov scored just 36 seconds into the game in a Nov. 25, 2008 NCAA Tournament match that was won by the Bluejays, 2-1.
Two years later, Ethan Finlay scored after 41 seconds on Oct. 5, 2010. That game turned out to be a 3-1 CU victory.
Below is a list of the quickest goals in Creighton soccer history, with Morrison Stadium scores in bold italic.
Time Player, Opponent Date
0:16 Brian Kamler vs. Bradley 10-09-92
0:26 Vince Odorisio vs. UCLA 09-10-14
0:30 Lance Hill at Missouri State 11-05-94
0:34 Johnny Torres at Bradley 10-06-95
0:36 Andrei Gotsmanov vs. Tulsa 11-25-08
0:41 Ethan Finlay vs. Tulsa 10-05-10
0:43 Ethan Finlay vs. SIU Edwardsville 10-30-10
Keller & Pitter Up For Senior Class Award
Vincent Keller and Timo Pitter are among 30 men's soccer student-athletes who excel both on and off the field that were selected as candidates for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate soccer.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Pitter is one of four men (along with CSU Bakersfield's Christian Duarte, Cal Poly's Chase Minter and Stanford's Brandon Vincent) who are also on the preseason watch list for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, which recognizes the top player in collegiate soccer. Outside of academics and athletics, all candidates also have been consistently involved in community service on their campus or in their communities.
The candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2015 NCAA Men's and Women's College Cup® championships in December.
Former Creighton goalkeeper Brian Holt won the 2011 Senior CLASS Award on the pitch, while ex-Creighton men's basketball standout Doug McDermott won the 2014 Senior CLASS Award on the hardwood.
BIG EAST Honors Keller & Sparrow
Capping its second straight 2-0-0 weekend, seniors Vincent Keller and Connor Sparrow showed their defensive mettle earning the BIG EAST Defensive and Goalkeeper of the Week honors on Monday, Sept. 7.
After allowing the first goal of the season in the second minute of play (1:31), Keller and the Creighton defense stiffened to hold the Matadors without a shot for the remaining 88:29. Keller got in on the offense as well; the senior defender assisted the game-tying goal against Cal State in the 58th minute. Two days later, Keller was an instrumental part of a Creighton defense that shut out No. 13 UC-Irvine, limiting the Anteaters to two first half shots and just eight overall.
Following the lead of his defensive center back, Sparrow limited the damage of the goal by Cal State Northridge in the second minute by holding the Matadors scoreless the rest of the way. He went on to blank No. 13 UC-Irvine for more than 74 minutes before giving way in the Bluejays' 4-0 win. Sparrow notched three saves during the weekend. It was Sparrow's second straight Goalkeeper of the Week accolade.
A Big Win Over A Big-Time Team
Creighton's 4-0 win over No. 13 UC Irvine on Sept. 6 was its largest margin of victory against a ranked team since a 4-0 win versus No. 23 Tulsa on Oct. 3, 2004.
Creighton's last win by four or more goals against a top-20 team had been a 6-2 victory over No. 6 Boston College on Dec. 8, 2002.
Road Openers Have Gone Well
Creighton's 1-0 win at Michigan State improved the Bluejays to 8-0-1 in its last nine road openers, including a 4-0-1 mark under Elmar Bolowich. Last year's 1-1 tie at Tulsa is the only blemish.
The last time Creighton lost a road opener came on Aug. 25, 2006, a 1-0 loss at No. 12 Indiana.
Sunday Funday
Creighton is 21-1-1 on Sunday's under Elmar Bolowich. CU was 4-0-0 on the day last season, and its only loss on a Sunday under Bolowich came vs. William & Mary (3-2 in double-OT) during the 2013 campaign.
Creighton has outscored the opposition 47-10 in those Sunday games.
Top 10 Preseason Jays, Again
Creighton was ranked sixth nationally in the preseason edition of the NSCAA Top 25 Coaches poll.
This was the fourth time in the last five years the Bluejays have been ranked in the top-10 of the preseason poll, and 11th time since 1998.
Creighton has now spent at least one week in the top 10 of the NSCAA poll in each of the last 24 seasons.
Herbers Play Gets Noticed
Fabian Herbers was a First Team All-American last year, and the junior picked up where he left off as the forward was named to College Soccer News' National Team of the Week on Aug. 31 and the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week on Sept. 1. He repeated his honor from Top Drawer Soccer on Sept. 8 with two goals and two assists in two wins. Herbers earned recognition for a third straight week when he was named the National Player of the Week by College Soccer News on Sept. 14.
Herbers has tallied at least one point in every game this year and has scored in all but one contest.
His five points against No. 13 UC Irvine on Sept. 6 were a personal high, and the most by a Bluejay since Ethan Finlay had six points on Oct. 15, 2011, also against UC Irvine.
In addition, Herbers performance vs. UC Irvine included his second career multiple-game as a Bluejay. Twelve times in his 44 career contests he's scored the first goal of the game for either team.
In seven games against outside competition this fall (two exhibtions, five regular-season games), Herbers owns seven goals and seven assists:
Opponent Goals Assists Final Score
at Bradley (Ex.) 1 2 W 3-0
Northwestern (Ex.) 1 2 W 5-0
Michigan 1 0 W 1-0
Milwaukee 1 1 W 4-0
CSUN 0 1 W 2-1
#13 UC Irvine 2 1 W 4-0
at Michigan State 1 0 W 1-0
Total (7 games) 7 7 CU 20-1
Dynamic Duo
Timo Pitter and Fabian Herbers form one of the nation's top offensive duos, and the numbers continue to bear that out.
Either Pitter or Herbers has scored or assisted on 32 of Creighton's 44 goals since the start of the 2014 season, including 24-of-32 tallies a year ago.
That pair have combined for 23 goals and 20 assists in that span. Nine of those 23 goals have been assisted by the other half of their star duo.
Weekly Awards
Connor Sparrow was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week on Aug. 31 after a posting a pair of shutouts during the opening weekend. It was the fourth such honor of his Creighton career, and second straight season he's won the honor following the opening weekend of the fall. He won his fifth career honor from the BIG EAST on Sept. 7th after allowing just one goal in wins on Sept. 4 & 6.
In 21 career starts in a Bluejay uniform at Morrison Stadium, Sparrow has allowed just one first half goal.
Ethan Finlay, All-Star
Former Creighton All-American Ethan Finlay is having a splendid summer.
Finlay entered the week third in the MLS with 13 assists to go with eight goals in 29 games with the Columbus Crew this year.
Earlier this summer, Finlay played in the MLS All-Star Game.
Finlay played at Creighton from 2008-11, leading the Bluejays to a pair of College Cups before being 10th overall in the 2012 MLS Super Draft.
Jays Favored In Preseason BIG EAST Poll
Creighton and Georgetown tied for first in the preseason BIG EAST poll that was released on Aug. 18th. Both teams had 77 points and five first-place votes in the poll.
GK Connor Sparrow, M Timo Pitter and F Fabian Herbers were each named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Pitter was a unanimous selection, while Sparrow was named BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
This is the eighth time in the last 11 years, and 15th time since 1990, that Creighton has been picked to win its league in the preseason.
Perennial Power
Creighton won the program's first BIG EAST title last season when it claimed the regular-season crown with a 7-1-1 mark.
The Bluejays now own 13 regular-season and 13 conference tournament titles in program history, all since 1992.
Another Strong Class
College Soccer News has dubbed Creighton's recruiting class as the nation's 31st best. Among the newcomers the website highlights are Evan Waldrep, Jacob Rooth and Peter Prescott.
Top 10 Crowds
Creighton finished last season 10th nationally in average home attendance and fifth overall in total home attendance.
It was the 11th straight season the Bluejays have finished in the top-10 nationally in average home attendance.
Creighton is currently averaging 3,580 fans through four home dates, which ranks seventh nationally through games of Sept. 14. CU is also third with 14,319 total home fans.
The 4,838 fans for Michigan on Aug. 28 ranked as the largest crowd in school history to witness a season-opener, while the crowd of 4,907 vs. CSUN on Sept. 4 was the program's largest crowd since 2012.
Herbers & Pitter Earn Preseason Acclaim
Fabian Herbers and Timo Pitter have both been recognized nationally in the preseason. Both men are among the 30 players on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Creighton is one of six schools with two players on the list, joining Charlotte, CSU Bakersfield, Georgetown, Kentucky and Stanford.
Top Drawer Soccer also honored Herbers and Pitter on their Preseason Best XI Teams. Herbers was a first-team pick at forward, while Pitter was a second-teamer as a midfielder.
College Soccer News also acknowledged Herbers and Pitter on its Preseason All-America Teams. Herbers was a first-team choice at forward, while Pitter was a second-team midfielder.
Top 100 Trio
Fabian Herbers, Timo Pitter and Connor Sparrow all earned a spot on Top Drawer Soccer's Preseason Top 100 list of the nation's top players. Herbers checked in at No. 5, while Pitter (No. 18) and Sparrow (No. 74) made the Bluejays one of eight teams nationally with three players in the top-75.
Sparrow A Rare Bird
Senior GK Connor Sparrow remains Creighton's all-time leader in goals against average, allowing just 0.43 goals per 90 minutes in a Bluejay uniform.
Sparrow's numbers are even more impressive at home, where he owns a 0.37 GAA in a Creighton uniform at Morrison Stadium.
Of the 14 goals that Sparrow has allowed as a Bluejay, only two have come prior to halftime.
Sparrow has moved into fourth place on Creighton's all-time leaders in winning percentage with a .781 win percentage (23-5-4). He can move into third place, past Jon Epperson (.782), with a victory on Saturday vs. Tulsa.
Tough 2015 Slate
The Bluejays' 2015 schedule features five regular-season contests against teams that were nationally-ranked in the preseason NSCAA poll, as CU meets No. 3 Georgetown, No. 7 Providence, No. 9 Michigan State, No. 19 Xavier and No. 20 UC Irvine.
Creighton also has a game vs. Tulsa and won an exhibition vs. Northwestern, two teams that were listed among those 'also receiving votes.”
All told, Creighton's 2015 schedule will see
it face nine teams that finished last year in the top 55 of the RPI, including five games against teams that reached the Sweet 16.
Bolowich Keeps CU Winning
Creighton ranks second nationally with 68 wins in the last five years, which coincides with the arrival of head coach Elmar Bolowich. Bolowich was named BIG EAST Co-Coach of the Year last season after helping the Bluejays to a league title.
Below is a list of the nation's most wins since Bolowich arrived before the 2011 season, through games of Sept. 15, 2015.
2011-14 2015 Total Next
Rk. Team Wins Wins Wins Game
1. Coastal Carolina 73 4 77 9/21
2. Creighton 63 5 68 9/19
3. Akron 63 4 67 9/16
Maryland 64 3 67 9/18
5. North Carolina 61 4 65 9/18
You Play To Win The Game
Creighton's 16-3-3 record last year led the nation in winning percentage (.795). The Bluejays were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament after falling in penalty kicks vs. UMBC during the team's 10th appearance in the national quarterfinals in the last 19 years.
So Close
Each of Creighton's last 14 losses have been by a single goal, including every setback in 2013 and 2014.
Creighton has fallen behind by two goals just four times in 95 games under Elmar Bolowich, and lost by two goals just twice.
Streaks To Watch
Creighton is 38-0-2 under Elmar Bolowich when leading at halftime.
Creighton is 19-0-1 in its last 20 games when scoring first, and 59-3-2 under Bolowich.
Creighton has trailed at the half in just one of its last 28 games (1-0 vs. CSUN on Sept. 4, 2015).
Creighton is 13-0-0 in home matches under Bolowich that kickoff prior to 6 pm.
Creighton Soccer's European Vacation
Creighton spent nearly two weeks in Europe in early July, spending most of that time in Germany and Austria. The team went 2-2-0 against strong competition, but also bonded in a foreign culture that included trips Neuschwanstein Castle, Allianz Arena and Munich's Olympic Stadium, among other areas.
O Captain! My Captain!
Seniors Vincent Keller and Eric DeJulio have been named captains on this year's team. Both men started all 22 games a season ago for Creighton's BIG EAST champion club.
2015 Creighton Outlook
Expectations for 2015 are sky-high for a Creighton program that went 16-3-3 and led the nation in winning percentage a year ago en route to its first BIG EAST regular-season title.
A top-notch recruiting class helps support the return of eight starters, including the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year (Fabian Herbers) and the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year (Timo Pitter) for fifth-year head coach Elmar Bolowich, last year's BIG EAST Coach of the Year. In all, 30-of-32 goals scored and all but five goalkeeping minutes return to a program that seeks a sixth College Cup appearance in the past 20 seasons.
Herbers earned First Team All-America accolades and top honors from the BIG EAST after a magnificent sophomore season. He led the conference with 28 points, was second in the league with four game-winning goals, and third in both goals (10) and assists (8).
Pitter paced the league in assists (9), shots (75) and shots on goal (36) during a junior campaign that saw him add Second Team All-America plaudits.
The Jays also boast four other returners who scored multiple times in 2014. Midfielder Lucas Stauffer had four goals and a pair of assists to earn a spot on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team, while classmate Ricky Lopez-Espin was one of the nation's most impressive freshmen before a knee injury in early October ended his season prematurely.
Helping to distribute in the midfield are junior Ricardo Perez and the sophomore duo of Fernando Castellanos and Noah Franke who combined for five goals and four assists a year ago.
The return of Myles Englis from injury, plus recruits like Joel Rystrand, Evan Waldrep and Bryce Gibson should give CU plenty of offensive firepower.
Creighton's defense figures to remain strong and experienced, as well, paced by the return of seniors Eric DeJulio, Mike Paye, Vincent Keller and Connor Sparrow. An influx of talented defenders, headed by Peter Prescott and Felix Kollmannthaler, will also contend for playing time.
Sparrow finished second nationally in goals against average (0.49 GAA) and 10th in save percentage (.841), allowing just 11 scores in 22 contests.
Impressively, Creighton allowed just one first half goal during the 2014 campaign.
DeJulio was the only Bluejay to play every minute last season, while Keller was nearly as durable, starting all 22 contests.
Creighton has annually played one of the top schedules in college soccer, and the 2015 campaign figures to be no different.
Half of Creighton's 18 opponents on the docket finished with top-55 RPI's nationally a year ago, including non-conference showdowns vs. Michigan State, UC Irvine, Tulsa and CSUN.
Creighton also faces a rigorous BIG EAST slate, which features the likes of Georgetown, Providence, Xavier and Marquette in a league that was tabbed third nationally in the final 2014 RPI.
Fueling expectations for Creighton was a foreign trip to Europe for two weeks in July.
While away, the team played against some top clubs from both Germany and Austria, finishing with a 2-2-0 record.
In addition to the extra competition, the team bonded off-the-field while adjusting a new culture and visiting many international landmarks such as Allianz Arena, Neuschwanstein Castle and the former Olympic Stadium in Munich.
Players Mentioned
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GK
/ Men's SoccerCreighton MSOC Highlights & Postgame vs Marquette 9-19-25
Saturday, September 20
Creighton Media Availability Men's Soccer Sept. 17
Wednesday, September 17
Creighton MSOC Highlights & Postgame vs Oral Roberts--9-13-25
Sunday, September 14
Creighton MSOC Highlights & Postgame vs Omaha 9-10-25
Thursday, September 11
