Creighton University
8-0-0, 1-0-0
Seton Hall
0-6-1, 0-1-0
No. 1 Men's Soccer Storms Back to Beat Seton Hall In BIG EAST Opener
9/26/2015 4:17:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -- The top-ranked Creighton men's soccer team improved its record to 8-0-0, scoring three goals in the final 11 minutes to best host Seton Hall, 4-2, in the Bluejays' BIG EAST opener.
Creighton is the nation's only remaining unbeaten or untied team.
Senior Timo Pitter gave the Jays an early, 1-0 lead with a 26th-minute goal off an assist by Fabian Herbers.
Herbers has recorded at least one point in each of the Jays' first eight matches, becoming the first player since the program's relaunch in 1990 to do so. The Ahaus, Germany, native is Creighton's leading point scorer this season (7G, 6A).
However, about one minute after Pitter's goal, the Pirates answered back with a goal by Andres Arcila. Arcila's 27th-minute score sent the match into intermission in a 1-1 deadlock.
Seton Hall's first-half goal snapped Creighton goalkeeper Connor Sparrow's scoreless streak at 459:33.
After nearly 27 minutes of scoreless play in the second half, Seton Hall capitalized on a defensive miscue to tally a 72nd-minute goal and take a narrow, 2-1 lead.
The Jays then proved why they are unanimously ranked the nation's top team, rattling off three consecutive goals and thwarting the Pirates' hopes of pulling an upset.
Herbers began the offensive onslaught in the 80th minute by successfully converting a penalty kick after Lucas Stauffer was fouled in the box.
Two minutes later, Myles Englis netted the Jays' eventual game-winning goal after finishing a through ball from Joel Rydstrand toward the far post.
The Bluejays weren't done yet.
Just four minutes later, Stauffer scored his first goal of the season off an assist by Vincent Keller to seal the 4-2 win for Creighton.
The offensive outburst marked the first time since Sept. 21, 2003 that the Bluejays had scored three goals in a span of less than six minutes.
With the victory, Creighton head coach Elmar Bolowich surpassed Bret Simon in the Jays' record books for best win percentage. At 71-18-9, Bolowich has maintained a .770 win percentage at Creighton, besting Simon's mark of .769 set from 1995-2000.
The Bluejays will look to remain unbeaten when they return home to take on Missouri State Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m.
During Bolowich's tenure, Creighton is 48-6-3 at Michael G. Morrison, S.J., Stadium.
Team Stats
PITTER, Timo (4)
Assisted By: HERBERS, Fabian
from distance off crossbar and in
25:30
Arcila, Andres (2)
Assisted By: Geiler, Samuel
buried in front off rebound from 21's sh
26:42
Bartok, Danny (1)
Assisted By: Arcila, Andres
long lob from 10, misplayed by defender
71:39
HERBERS, Fabian (7)
CU HERBERS, Fabian PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 7 for season.
79:46
ENGLIS, Myles (4)
Assisted By: RYDSTRAND, Joel
received through ball in box and finishe
81:54
STAUFFER, Lucas (1)
Assisted By: KELLER, Vincent
from distance on left side outside box
85:31
