Koenig, Rydstrand, Coaching Staff Earn Major Awards, Five Bluejays Named To All-BIG EAST Teams
11/2/2018 1:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Sven Koenig claimed Offensive Player of the Year, Joel Rydstrand earned Midfielder of the Year, Creighton honored as Coaching Staff of the Year
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton men's soccer seniors Sven Koenig and Joel Rydstrand each earned BIG EAST Men's Soccer major awards and a total of five Bluejays claimed spots on the All-BIG EAST teams, the league announced on Friday afternoon.
Koenig earned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year accolades and Rydstrand was named the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year. Additionally, the Creighton coaching staff, led by eighth-year head coach Elmar Bolowich, earned the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year award after leading the Bluejays to the regular-season crown with a 7-1-1 league record.
Koenig, Rydstrand and Akeem Ward each made the All-BIG EAST First Team, while Mitch LaGro and Paul Kruse made the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Kruse also earned unanimous selection to the league's All-Freshman Team.
A native of Westhofen, Germany, Koenig led the BIG EAST in goals during the regular season with 10, including seven during league play. He was named the conference's offensive player of the week on Oct. 1 and earned weekly honor roll status on Sept. 17. During all matches, the senior averages 2.06 shots on goal per match, which ranks sixth nationally, and owns a shot accuracy of .614, which ranks 13th-best among Division I players. Koenig is the third Creighton player to be named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, joining Ricky Lopez-Espin (2017) and Fabian Herbers (2014, 2015) as the Bluejays have claimed conference offensive player of the year accolades four out of the past five seasons.
In addition to his major award, Koenig was also the lone player unanimously selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team.Â
Rydstrand heads into the postseason as Creighton's leader in assists with five. The Almunge, Sweden native, tied for the league lead with four assists during nine league matches. He also ranked second on the team for shots (19) and minutes played (831) during BIG EAST action. The senior owns 23 careers assists during 81 matches played, which ranks tied for 11th on Creighton's career assists list. He is one of four Bluejays to start each match this season and has not missed a match during his four-year career in Omaha, which includes starts in all but one of those contests. Rydstrand earned BIG EAST All-Freshman team honors in 2015. He is the third Bluejay to be named the league's midfielder of the year (also Ricardo Perez, 2016 and Timo Pitter, 2014 and 2015) and Creighton boasts four BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year honors since 2014.
Ward earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team and enters the postseason second on the Bluejays in points with eight from two goals and four assists. The Vienna, Virginia native missed a total of 36 minutes of game action during 17 matches.Â
LaGro, one of six seniors on this year's squad, did not miss a minute of action during BIG EAST play while helping the Bluejay defense allow a BIG EAST-low six goals  over the course of nine league matches. The Dallas, Texas native, also had four shot attempts, including one on goal. LaGro also made the All-BIG EAST Second Team as a sophomore in 2016.Â
Kruse currently ranks 12th nationally with a 0.624 goals against average while playing all 1,588 possible minutes in goal. He also owns seven shutouts. During BIG EAST play, the Heilbronn, Germany native, allowed only six goals -- the best mark in the league -- and earned four shutouts. In addition to his All-BIG EAST Second Team selection, Kruse was also one of four players to be unanimously selected to the All-Freshman Team.Â
Under the direction of head coach Elmar Bolowich and assistants Johnny Torres, Michael Gabb and Mitch Kavanagh, the Bluejays finished the regular-season 11-4-2 overall and 7-1-1 in league play for their first BIG EAST regular-season title since 2014. Creighton finished BIG EAST play with the best marks in goals (16), points (48) and goals allowed (6), while listing second in goals against average (0.65) and shutouts (4).
The Bluejays open postseason play with a BIG EAST Championship semifinal match on Wednesday at Morrison Stadium against Marquette or Xavier. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the match will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network.Â
----------------
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Sven Koenig, Creighton, Sr., F
Â
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Dylan Nealis, Georgetown, Jr., D
Â
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Joel Rydstrand, Creighton, Sr., M
Â
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Luis Barraza, Marquette, Sr., GK
Â
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Skage Simonsen, St. John's, Fr., M
Â
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Creighton
Â
Â
All-BIG EAST First Team
Sven Koenig, Creighton, Sr., F*Â Â Â
Derek Dodson, Georgetown, So., F
Achara, Georgetown, Jr., FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Simen Hestnes, Xavier, Sr., MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â
Joel Rydstrand, Creighton, Sr., MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Tiago Mendonca, Providence, R-Jr., M
Luka Prpa, Marquette, Jr., MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Akeem Ward, Creighton, Sr., DÂ Â Â
Dylan Nealis, Georgetown, Jr., DÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Patrick Seagrist, Marquette, Jr., D
Luis Barraza, Marquette, Sr., GKÂ
Â
All-BIG EAST Second Team^
Connor Alba, Marquette, Jr., FÂ Â Â Â
CJ Tibbling, Seton Hall, Fr., FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Sam Sergi, Xavier, R-Jr., F Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Skage Simonsen, St. John's, Fr., M
Kyle Zajec, Georgetown, Sr., MÂ Â Â
Zach Zandi, Villanova, Sr., MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Brendan McDonough, Georgetown, Sr., D
Mitch LaGro, Creighton, R-Sr., D Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Klisman Sousa, Providence, R-Sr., D Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
David Arvidsson, Seton Hall, Grad., DÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â
Colin Miller, Providence, R-Sr., GK Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Paul Kruse, Creighton, Fr., GKÂ Â Â Â Â
Â
BIG EAST All-Freshman Team
Paul Kruse, Creighton, Fr., GK*Â Â Â
Lukas Sunesson, Marquette, Fr., F*
Skage Simonsen, St. John's Fr., M*
CJ Tibbling, Seton Hall, Fr., F*
Gil Santos, Providence, Fr., F
Jack Haywood, Butler, Fr., M
Ramzi Qawasmy, Providence, Fr., D
Giannis Nikopolidis, Georgetown, Fr., GK
Sean Zawadzki, Georgetown, Fr., M
Taylor Crull, Xavier, R-Fr., D
Tani Oluwaseyi, St. John's Fr., F
Â
*unanimous selection
^extra player added due to a tie in voting
Â
Koenig earned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year accolades and Rydstrand was named the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year. Additionally, the Creighton coaching staff, led by eighth-year head coach Elmar Bolowich, earned the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year award after leading the Bluejays to the regular-season crown with a 7-1-1 league record.
Koenig, Rydstrand and Akeem Ward each made the All-BIG EAST First Team, while Mitch LaGro and Paul Kruse made the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Kruse also earned unanimous selection to the league's All-Freshman Team.
A native of Westhofen, Germany, Koenig led the BIG EAST in goals during the regular season with 10, including seven during league play. He was named the conference's offensive player of the week on Oct. 1 and earned weekly honor roll status on Sept. 17. During all matches, the senior averages 2.06 shots on goal per match, which ranks sixth nationally, and owns a shot accuracy of .614, which ranks 13th-best among Division I players. Koenig is the third Creighton player to be named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, joining Ricky Lopez-Espin (2017) and Fabian Herbers (2014, 2015) as the Bluejays have claimed conference offensive player of the year accolades four out of the past five seasons.
In addition to his major award, Koenig was also the lone player unanimously selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team.Â
Rydstrand heads into the postseason as Creighton's leader in assists with five. The Almunge, Sweden native, tied for the league lead with four assists during nine league matches. He also ranked second on the team for shots (19) and minutes played (831) during BIG EAST action. The senior owns 23 careers assists during 81 matches played, which ranks tied for 11th on Creighton's career assists list. He is one of four Bluejays to start each match this season and has not missed a match during his four-year career in Omaha, which includes starts in all but one of those contests. Rydstrand earned BIG EAST All-Freshman team honors in 2015. He is the third Bluejay to be named the league's midfielder of the year (also Ricardo Perez, 2016 and Timo Pitter, 2014 and 2015) and Creighton boasts four BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year honors since 2014.
Ward earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team and enters the postseason second on the Bluejays in points with eight from two goals and four assists. The Vienna, Virginia native missed a total of 36 minutes of game action during 17 matches.Â
LaGro, one of six seniors on this year's squad, did not miss a minute of action during BIG EAST play while helping the Bluejay defense allow a BIG EAST-low six goals  over the course of nine league matches. The Dallas, Texas native, also had four shot attempts, including one on goal. LaGro also made the All-BIG EAST Second Team as a sophomore in 2016.Â
Kruse currently ranks 12th nationally with a 0.624 goals against average while playing all 1,588 possible minutes in goal. He also owns seven shutouts. During BIG EAST play, the Heilbronn, Germany native, allowed only six goals -- the best mark in the league -- and earned four shutouts. In addition to his All-BIG EAST Second Team selection, Kruse was also one of four players to be unanimously selected to the All-Freshman Team.Â
Under the direction of head coach Elmar Bolowich and assistants Johnny Torres, Michael Gabb and Mitch Kavanagh, the Bluejays finished the regular-season 11-4-2 overall and 7-1-1 in league play for their first BIG EAST regular-season title since 2014. Creighton finished BIG EAST play with the best marks in goals (16), points (48) and goals allowed (6), while listing second in goals against average (0.65) and shutouts (4).
The Bluejays open postseason play with a BIG EAST Championship semifinal match on Wednesday at Morrison Stadium against Marquette or Xavier. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the match will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network.Â
----------------
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Sven Koenig, Creighton, Sr., F
Â
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Dylan Nealis, Georgetown, Jr., D
Â
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Joel Rydstrand, Creighton, Sr., M
Â
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Luis Barraza, Marquette, Sr., GK
Â
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Skage Simonsen, St. John's, Fr., M
Â
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Creighton
Â
Â
All-BIG EAST First Team
Sven Koenig, Creighton, Sr., F*Â Â Â
Derek Dodson, Georgetown, So., F
Achara, Georgetown, Jr., FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Simen Hestnes, Xavier, Sr., MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â
Joel Rydstrand, Creighton, Sr., MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Tiago Mendonca, Providence, R-Jr., M
Luka Prpa, Marquette, Jr., MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Akeem Ward, Creighton, Sr., DÂ Â Â
Dylan Nealis, Georgetown, Jr., DÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Patrick Seagrist, Marquette, Jr., D
Luis Barraza, Marquette, Sr., GKÂ
Â
All-BIG EAST Second Team^
Connor Alba, Marquette, Jr., FÂ Â Â Â
CJ Tibbling, Seton Hall, Fr., FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Sam Sergi, Xavier, R-Jr., F Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Skage Simonsen, St. John's, Fr., M
Kyle Zajec, Georgetown, Sr., MÂ Â Â
Zach Zandi, Villanova, Sr., MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Brendan McDonough, Georgetown, Sr., D
Mitch LaGro, Creighton, R-Sr., D Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Klisman Sousa, Providence, R-Sr., D Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
David Arvidsson, Seton Hall, Grad., DÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â
Colin Miller, Providence, R-Sr., GK Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Paul Kruse, Creighton, Fr., GKÂ Â Â Â Â
Â
BIG EAST All-Freshman Team
Paul Kruse, Creighton, Fr., GK*Â Â Â
Lukas Sunesson, Marquette, Fr., F*
Skage Simonsen, St. John's Fr., M*
CJ Tibbling, Seton Hall, Fr., F*
Gil Santos, Providence, Fr., F
Jack Haywood, Butler, Fr., M
Ramzi Qawasmy, Providence, Fr., D
Giannis Nikopolidis, Georgetown, Fr., GK
Sean Zawadzki, Georgetown, Fr., M
Taylor Crull, Xavier, R-Fr., D
Tani Oluwaseyi, St. John's Fr., F
Â
*unanimous selection
^extra player added due to a tie in voting
Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerCreighton 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
Creighton Men's Soccer Media Availability September 9
Tuesday, September 09
