L to R: Scott Carollo, Ren Smith, Ricky Lopez-Espin, Pat and Dr. Jim Manion, Ricardo Perez, Michael Kluver, Duane Dowd and grandson, Vincent Keller
Photo by: Lance Rinker
Men's Soccer Caps Season With Jeffrey C. Kasch Foundation Banquet
1/21/2016 11:09:00 AM | Men's Soccer
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By: by Lance Rinker
OMAHA, Neb. — Putting the finishing touches on its stellar 2015 campaign, the Creighton men's soccer team was recognized at the Jeffrey C. Kasch Foundation Postseason Banquet hosted by The HillStoppers.
The banquet, held at The Old Mattress Factory, honored the team, which advanced to the program's fourth national quarterfinal appearance since 2011.
The Bluejays topped the NSCAA national rankings for a program-best eight weeks and began the season with a 15-0-0 record, the program's best start since 1993 and the best start by any NCAA Division I team since 2009. Creighton's 19 wins tied the '93 squad for the third-most single-season wins in program history.
Five men's soccer student-athletes received individual awards at the event, as follows:
The HillStoppers Most Valuable Player Award - Vincent Keller, Sr., D Voted on by players
The Carollo Family Coaches Award - Fabian Herbers, Jr., F Voted on by coaching staff for leadership and most consistent effort on and off the field?
The Dowd Family Most Competitive Player Award - Ricky Lopez-Espin, So., F Honor given for most winning points in practice games throughout the season
The Manion Family Most Improved Player Award - Ricardo Perez, Jr., M Voted on by coaching staff
Ren & Stacie Smith Bluejay Player Award - Michael Kluver, R-So., GK Honor given for community service and outreach L to R: Senior Vincent Keller, Assistant Coach Johnny Torres, Janis Enenbach 2015 HIGHLIGHTS
Creighton concluded the 2015 campaign as the nation's sixth-ranked team and one of just four teams nationwide to score more than 50 goals. The Bluejays finished in the national Top 5 in the following statistical categories: win percentage (.826), scoring offense (2.30), goals (53), assists (47), points (153), shots per game (19.52), and shots on goal per game (8.26).
Herbers, Keller, and Timo Pitter received NSCAA All-America honors, as well. Herbers earned CoSIDA First Team All-Academic honors, and Keller earned CoSIDA Third Team All-Academic accolades.
One of several Creighton NSCAA regional honorees, assistant coach Johnny Torres was named Great Lakes Regional Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), marking the third time in five years Torres has garnered the distinction. Torres was also tabbed as regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012. This season marked Torres' ninth year on the Creighton coaching staff.
Herbers, Keller, Pitter, and Connor Sparrow were each selected to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region First Team, while Perez earned Second Team honors.
Herbers finished the season as the nation's statistical leader for points (47) and assists (17). He was unanimously selected as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, marking the second-consecutive season in which he earned the accolade. One of three male finalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy, Herbers was selected by the Philadelphia Union with the sixth overall pick of the MLS SuperDraft.
Pitter, who was named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year for a second-consecutive year, finished his career ranking third among active players in NCAA D-I for total points and among Creighton's all-time top ten for career points and goals (33). In his four seasons, Pitter impressively started all of Creighton's 89 matches. In his four seasons, Pitter impressively started all of Creighton's 89 matches. Pitter was selected 33rd overall by FC Dallas in the MLS SuperDraft.
Sparrow, the reigning BIG EAST Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, recorded nine shutouts in 2015 while maintaining a 0.82 goals against average. He was one three Bluejay players to be selected to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week twice. He played 4,122 of a possible 4,142 minutes in goal for Creighton over the past two seasons, finishing his Bluejay career as the program's all-time leader for win percentage at .797 (37-9-4). Among Creighton's all-time career leaders, Sparrow ranks second in goals against average (0.63), fourth in shutouts (23), and sixth in goalkeeper minutes played (4,592:21). Sparrow was selected 64th overal by Real Salt Lake in the MLS SuperDraft.
Senior co-captain Keller helped anchor a Creighton defense that recorded eight shutouts in its first ten matches and allowed just 19 goals on the year. In his four seasons, Keller made 82 appearances for the Bluejays, including 75 starts. He earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors this season. Keller was selected 57th overall by the Chicago Fire in the MLS SuperDraft.
FULL SEASON ACCOLADES Fabian Herbers(6th overall pick in MLS SuperDraft by Philadelphia Union) NCAA Division I Men's Assists Leader (17) NCAA Division I Men's Points Leader (47) MAC Hermann Trophy (National Player of the Year) Runner-Up NSCAA Division I Men's All-America First Team BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year All-BIG EAST First Team NSCAA Division I Men's All-Great Lakes Region First Team HERO Sports Division I Men's Soccer Player of the Year College Soccer News Men's First Team All-American TopDrawerSoccer Division I Men's Soccer Postseason Best XI First Team, F TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week, F, 9/1 TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week, F, 9/8 TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI First Team, F Preseason All-BIG EAST, F College Soccer News National Player of the Week, 9/14 College Soccer News Team of the Week, F, 8/31 College Soccer News Team of the Week, F, 9/14 College Soccer News Team of the Week, F, 10/5 College Soccer News Preseason First Team All-American, F
Timo Pitter(33rd overall pick in MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas) NSCAA Division I Men's All-America First Team MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist All-BIG EAST First Team BIG EAST All-Tournament Team BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year TopDrawerSoccer Division I Men's Soccer Postseason Best XI First Team, M College Soccer News Preseason Second Team All-American, M MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List (30) Preseason All-BIG EAST, M Senior CLASS Award Candidate (30) Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Second Team, M Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Top 100 (No. 18)
Vincent Keller(57th overall pick in MLS SuperDraft by Chicago Fire) NSCAA Division I Men's All-America Third Team NSCAA Division I Men's All-Great Lakes Region First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VII First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team All-BIG EAST First Team TopDrawerSoccer Division I Men's Soccer Postseason Best XI Second Team, F Senior CLASS Award Candidate (30) BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, 9/7 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, 9/14 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, 10/5
Connor Sparrow(64th overall pick in MLS SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake) BIG EAST Co-Goalkeeper of the Year All-BIG EAST Second Team NSCAA Division I Men's All-Great Lakes Region First Team BIG EAST All-Tournament Team BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week, 8/31 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week, 9/7 Preseason All-BIG EAST, GK Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Top 100 (No. 74)
Ricardo Perez NSCAA Division I Men's All-Great Lakes Region Second Team BIG EAST All-Tournament Team BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week, 10/26
Joel Rydstrand TopDrawerSoccer Division I Men's Soccer Freshman Best XI Second Team, M BIG EAST All-Freshman Team BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, 10/19 BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, 10/26
