Men's Soccer Receives Votes in United Soccer Coaches Preseason Ranking

OMAHA, Neb. -- The Creighton men's soccer team received four votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Ranking, as the association released its preseason rankings on Tuesday morning.

The Bluejays are the 18th team listed among schools "also receiving votes," placing them 43rd in the overall rankings.

Creighton ended last season with a record of 9-7-2, highlighted by a 7-1-1 mark at home.

Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Elmar Bolowich, the Bluejays return 13 letterwinners and welcome 16 newcomers for the 2018 season.

Senior Joel Rydstrand highlights the group of returners after leading the squad with eight assists last fall. The Sweden native, owns 63 starts and 18 assists during his first three seasons at Creighton. Junior Luke Haakenson tied for third on the team last year with three goals, which is the best mark among returners. 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 had four assists (each during league play) and one goal during his rookie campaign.

Juniors Yudai Tashiro and Tor Trosten each head to Omaha with national championship experience. Tashiro helped Tyler Junior College claim the 2016 and 2017 NJCAA national titles, while Trosten guided Hastings College to the 2016 NAIA national championship. Younes Boudadi joins the Bluejays' program after spending two seasons as a defender at Boston College and leading the Golden Eagles in assists last fall. Pepe Cejudo, a transfer from the University of Northwestern Ohio, tallied a two-year total of 19 goals and 14 assists on his way to First Team All-Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference honors during his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Racers.

Creighton is one of four BIG EAST schools listed in the Top 25 or receiving votes. Defending BIG EAST regular-season champion Butler is No. 9 (428 points), while defending tournament champion Georgetown is listed at No. 13 (349 points). Xavier also received three votes, just behind the Bluejays.

Preseason practice for the Bluejays begins on Wednesday and their first exhibition match is scheduled for Saturday at Caniglia Field against Nebraska-Omaha at 7:30 p.m. Creighton also plays at Ohio State (Aug. 15) and at home against Northern Illinois (Aug. 18) during the preseason.

The regular-season begins on Friday, Aug. 24 against preseason No. 11 Clemson at Morrison Stadium. Kickoff for the 2018 home-opener is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Season tickets and single-game tickets for each of Creighton's 11 home matches are currently on sale.

United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men - National - Preseason Ranking - August 7, 2018

Rank	School	1st Votes	Total Points	Prev.	2017 W-L-T
1	Stanford University	23	691	1	19-2-2
2	Indiana University	2	669	2	18-1-6
3	University Of North Carolina	2	633	4	17-4-1
4	University Of Akron	1	618	3	18-4-2
5	Wake Forest University	0	593	5	19-2-2
6	University Of Louisville	0	545	7	13-2-5
7	Michigan State University	0	524	6	13-3-4
8	Southern Methodist University	0	455	8	17-3-1
9	Butler University	0	428	12	14-5-2
10	Duke University	0	403	13	13-4-3
11	Clemson University	0	388	17	12-6-1
12	University Of Wisconsin	0	368	10	12-5-5
13	Georgetown University	0	349	16	14-4-2
14	Western Michigan University	0	342	9	17-4-1
15	University Of Virginia	0	285	19	12-4-5
16	Fordham University	0	266	11	14-6-3
17	University of Notre Dame	0	227	18	11-7-2
18	Coastal Carolina University	0	217	15	14-7-1
19	New Hampshire, University of	0	194	14	12-4-5
20	Florida International University	0	179	20	12-2-4
21	University Of Michigan	0	130	22	12-6-2
22	Seattle University	0	120	24	14-4-5
23	Dartmouth College	0	77	23	12-3-2
24	University Of Washington	0	71	NR	12-7-1
25	Colgate University	0	58	21	12-10-1

Also receiving votes: University Of California (45), UCLA (32), Columbia University (30), University Of Maryland (30), Virginia Commonwealth University (16), University Of Portland (13), University of Central Florida (11), Old Dominion University (10), University Of Massachusetts-Lowell (10), University of the Pacific (9), University Of Pittsburgh (9), University Of South Florida (8), United States Air Force Academy (7), University Of Kentucky (6), California State University Fullerton (6), Albany, University at (6), University Of Massachusetts (4), Creighton University (4), University Of San Francisco (4), Xavier University (3), Grand Canyon University (3), College of William & Mary (2), University of Connecticut (1), Mercer University (1).

Men's Soccer Receives Votes in United Soccer Coaches Preseason Ranking

United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men - National - Preseason Ranking - August 7, 2018

Related News

Players Mentioned

Younes Boudadi

Pepe Cejudo

Luke Haakenson

Kuba Polat

Joel Rydstrand

Yudai Tashiro

Tor Trosten

Related Videos