Creighton University
Nebraska-Omaha (Exh.)
Men's Soccer Starts Exhibition Schedule With Match At UNO On Saturday Night
8/10/2018 1:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Bluejays and Mavericks will kickoff at 7:30 pm on Saturday at Caniglia Field
Saturday's contest is the first of three exhibition matches on Creighton's preseason slate. The Bluejays also play at Ohio State on Wednesday before hosting Northern Illinois on Aug. 18.
Creighton will host preseason No. 11 Clemson on Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at Morrison Stadium for its regular-season opener. Â
2018 Season Outlook:
Eighth-year head coach Elmar Bolowich claimed his 100th victory at Creighton last season and guided the squad to 9-7-2 record during 2017, including a 7-1-1 mark at home.Â
The Bluejays look to rebound after failing to reach the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in the past 26 seasons and finishing with more losses than wins during conference play (3-4-2) for the first time in program history.
Creighton returns six starters from a season ago and is seeking its first conference regular-season title since 2014 when the Bluejays claimed the BIG EAST crown during their second season in the league. The squad has yet to claim a BIG EAST Tournament title.Â
Senior Joel Rydstrand returns as the only player to record at least 10 points last season after pacing the team with eight assists. Rydstrand owns 63 career starts in a Bluejay uniform and has 18 career assists from his midfielder position.Â
Junior Luke Haakenson tied for third on the team a year ago with three goals, which is the best mark among returners. The junior owns 25 starts during his first two seasons in Omaha and will be relied on to provide an offensive spark.Â
Kuba Polat, a 2017 unanimous All-BIG EAST Freshman Team selection, joins Rydstrand as the only two returners to start all 18 matches last season. Polat will look to build off his rookie campaign, which included four assists and one goal from the middle of the Bluejays' attack.Â
 Defenders Akeem Ward, Julius Fohr, Mitch LaGro and Bryce Gibson each return after playing significant roles for the backline, which produced seven shutouts last season. LaGro, a co-captain of the 2017 squad, started the first 14 matches before suffering a season-ending foot injury. The Bluejays were outscored 10-7 and went 1-3-0 during his absence at the conclusion of the season.Â
Creighton welcomes 16 newcomers for the 2018 season, which includes 10 freshmen, five players with two years of eligibility remaining and one graduate transfer.Â
Two newcomers head to Omaha with national championship experience. Midfielder Yudai Tashiro helped Tyler Junior College claim both the 2016 and 2017 NJCAA national titles, while Tor Trosten had two goals and six assists while part of Hastings College's run to the 2016 NAIA national championship.
With the departure of starting goalkeeper Michael Kluver, the Bluejays welcome freshmen Paul Kruse and Duncan Werling and graduate transfer Jack Robinson (Fairfield) to compete for the starting job. Â
Kruse played goalkeeper for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on their way to the 2016 U-19 German National Championship. Werling redshirted during one season at UCLA, while Robinson made six starts for Fairfield.
Younes Boudadi joins Creighton after playing two seasons as a starting defender at Boston College. Boudadi led the Golden Eagles with eight assists during 2017.Â
Pepe Cejudo, a transfer from the University of Northwestern Ohio, tallied 19 goals and 14 assists on his way to First Team All-Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference during each of his two seasons with the Racers.Â
Creighton hosts 10 matches at Morrison Stadium during the 2018 season, including five contests against BIG EAST opponents.Â
Since joining the BIG EAST prior to the 2013 season, the Bluejays boast a 48-8-5 record at Morrison Stadium, including 17-4-1 in league play.Â
