Friday, September 1
Omaha, Neb.
7:30 PM
Creighton University
vs
Grand Canyon
Photo by: Jim Shorin/ISI Photos
Men's Soccer Opens Home Season with Grand Canyon on Friday Night
8/31/2023 5:23:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Omaha, Neb. -- Facing former Bluejay star Michael Kraus (2003-06) and his Grand Canyon squad, the Creighton Men's Soccer team opens the home portion of the 2023 season on Friday, September 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Morrison Stadium.
Â
Home Opening Success
Creighton is 30-5-5 in home openers, including 3-1-0 under head coach Johnny Torres. Overall the Bluejays are 158-34-25 at Morrison Stadium, which became Creighton's home pitch in 2003.
Series History: Series Tied, 1-1-0
Creighton and Grand Canyon have met twice previously, splitting matches on the home pitch by 1-0 decisions.
Date   Opponent   Score
Aug. 27, 2017   Grand Canyon   W, 1-0 (2ot)
Aug. 31, 2018   at Grand Canyon   L, 0-1
Series History: Creighton leads Denver, 3-1-2
Consistently competitive the Bluejays and Pioneers have needed overtime in three of their six meetings. Creighton holds a 3-1-2 edge, but are 1-0-1 in two road matches.
Date   Opponent   Score
Sept. 29, 1980   at Denver   T, 0-0 (ot)
Sept. 15, 2001   Denver   W, 2-1
Sept. 27, 2008   Denver   W, 2-0
Aug. 27, 2011   at Denver   W, 1-0
Sept. 21, 2016   Denver   T, 0-0 (2ot)
Oct. 2, 2018   Denver   L, 0-1 (2ot)
Scouting Grand Canyon (0-2-0)
The Antelopes opened 2023 with a pair of very competitive road losses, falling 3-1 at #18 Wake Forest and 3-0 at Denver. This weekend Grand Canyon plays a pair of game in Omaha against the Bluejays on Friday and at Omaha on Monday, September 4.
In the 2022 season, GCU posted a 7-8-3 record, ending the season with a 4-3-2 in
conference play. Returning to the pitch for the Antelopes is junior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt, who played 1,221 minutes and recorded 50 saves and allowing 31 goals for a 1.72 GAA. Schmidt posted 3 shutouts for the Antelope.
The Antelopes are led by former Creighton great Michael Kraus (2003-06), who was the 2006 MVC Player of the Year. Kraus closed his Creighton career with 21 goals and 17 assists, giving him 59 points.
Scouting Denver (1-0-1)
A very favorable 2023 schedule sees Denver open the season with six consecutive home matches. The Pioneers began the season with a 0-0 draw against San Diego State, then delivered a 3-0 win over Grand Canyon on Sunday, Aug. 27. Before hosting the Bluejays on Monday, Denver welcomes No. 11 SMU on Friday evening.
Denver's 2022 season consisted of a 14-3-5 record, 6-0-2 in conference play, and a second round run in the NCAA Tournament that ended in a loss 3-1 to Duke.
Junior midfielder Sam Bassett, who led the team with seven goals and six assists, returns to the roster. The Pioneers will also welcome back sophomore midfielder Holger Olsson, who posted six goals and a 0.632 shots on goal percentage last season.
In goal for Denver is sophomore Isaac Nehme,who played 2,000 minutes and recorded 43 saves and a 0.741 save percentage.
Scouting Creighton (0-1-1)
The Bluejays' trip to California trip quite go as planned with a 3-1 loss at No. 7 Stanford and a 0-0 draw with UC Irvine.
Creighton's goal against the Cardinal came late in the first half as Alfie Pope headed in a goal from Miguel Arilla.
Goalkeeper Nathan Schnur was strong in both contests, specifically the draw with UC Irvine. Schnur collected 11 saves over the two matches, including six versus the Anteaters.
Home is for Scoring
In forty seasons the Bluejays have been shutout just six times in their home opener, the last time it happed was a 2-0 loss to No. 17 Virginia Tech in 2017.
The last time Creighton was shutout at home in any contest was a 1-0 decision versus Villanova on Nov. 5, 2021.
Torres and Kraus Share Creighton Pitch for First Time as Head Coaches
While both Johnny Torres and Michael Kraus (Grand Canyon head coach) more than made their mark on Creighton history as players, the two only overlapped as coaches at Creighton during the 2010 season. Torres was a played for the Bluejays from 1994-97 and returned as a coach in 2007. Kraus played at Creighton from 2003-06.
Schnur Raised Career Save Total 25 Percent
During the California trip junior Nathan Schnur made 11 saves, pushing his career total to 43 saves. He entered the season with 32 saves in 13 matches.
Â
2023 Home Opener
Grand Canyon at Creighton
Friday, September 1 @ 7:30 pm
Stats: https://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Online Stream - FloFC: https://www.flofc.com/live/67338
Radio - 1180 AM: https://player.listenlive.co/52381
Spanish Radio - 1020 AM: https://player.listenlive.co/49031/es
Creighton at Denver
Monday, September 4 @ 8:00 pm
Stats: https://denverpioneers.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
Online Stream - MidCo: https://www.midcosportsplus.com/page/01H57TR0BWZFVJNDSXJJGFBB87
Grand Canyon at Creighton
Friday, September 1 @ 7:30 pm
Stats: https://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Online Stream - FloFC: https://www.flofc.com/live/67338
Radio - 1180 AM: https://player.listenlive.co/52381
Spanish Radio - 1020 AM: https://player.listenlive.co/49031/es
Creighton at Denver
Monday, September 4 @ 8:00 pm
Stats: https://denverpioneers.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
Online Stream - MidCo: https://www.midcosportsplus.com/page/01H57TR0BWZFVJNDSXJJGFBB87
Home Opening Success
Creighton is 30-5-5 in home openers, including 3-1-0 under head coach Johnny Torres. Overall the Bluejays are 158-34-25 at Morrison Stadium, which became Creighton's home pitch in 2003.
Series History: Series Tied, 1-1-0
Creighton and Grand Canyon have met twice previously, splitting matches on the home pitch by 1-0 decisions.
Date   Opponent   Score
Aug. 27, 2017   Grand Canyon   W, 1-0 (2ot)
Aug. 31, 2018   at Grand Canyon   L, 0-1
Series History: Creighton leads Denver, 3-1-2
Consistently competitive the Bluejays and Pioneers have needed overtime in three of their six meetings. Creighton holds a 3-1-2 edge, but are 1-0-1 in two road matches.
Date   Opponent   Score
Sept. 29, 1980   at Denver   T, 0-0 (ot)
Sept. 15, 2001   Denver   W, 2-1
Sept. 27, 2008   Denver   W, 2-0
Aug. 27, 2011   at Denver   W, 1-0
Sept. 21, 2016   Denver   T, 0-0 (2ot)
Oct. 2, 2018   Denver   L, 0-1 (2ot)
Scouting Grand Canyon (0-2-0)
The Antelopes opened 2023 with a pair of very competitive road losses, falling 3-1 at #18 Wake Forest and 3-0 at Denver. This weekend Grand Canyon plays a pair of game in Omaha against the Bluejays on Friday and at Omaha on Monday, September 4.
In the 2022 season, GCU posted a 7-8-3 record, ending the season with a 4-3-2 in
conference play. Returning to the pitch for the Antelopes is junior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt, who played 1,221 minutes and recorded 50 saves and allowing 31 goals for a 1.72 GAA. Schmidt posted 3 shutouts for the Antelope.
The Antelopes are led by former Creighton great Michael Kraus (2003-06), who was the 2006 MVC Player of the Year. Kraus closed his Creighton career with 21 goals and 17 assists, giving him 59 points.
Scouting Denver (1-0-1)
A very favorable 2023 schedule sees Denver open the season with six consecutive home matches. The Pioneers began the season with a 0-0 draw against San Diego State, then delivered a 3-0 win over Grand Canyon on Sunday, Aug. 27. Before hosting the Bluejays on Monday, Denver welcomes No. 11 SMU on Friday evening.
Denver's 2022 season consisted of a 14-3-5 record, 6-0-2 in conference play, and a second round run in the NCAA Tournament that ended in a loss 3-1 to Duke.
Junior midfielder Sam Bassett, who led the team with seven goals and six assists, returns to the roster. The Pioneers will also welcome back sophomore midfielder Holger Olsson, who posted six goals and a 0.632 shots on goal percentage last season.
In goal for Denver is sophomore Isaac Nehme,who played 2,000 minutes and recorded 43 saves and a 0.741 save percentage.
Scouting Creighton (0-1-1)
The Bluejays' trip to California trip quite go as planned with a 3-1 loss at No. 7 Stanford and a 0-0 draw with UC Irvine.
Creighton's goal against the Cardinal came late in the first half as Alfie Pope headed in a goal from Miguel Arilla.
Goalkeeper Nathan Schnur was strong in both contests, specifically the draw with UC Irvine. Schnur collected 11 saves over the two matches, including six versus the Anteaters.
Home is for Scoring
In forty seasons the Bluejays have been shutout just six times in their home opener, the last time it happed was a 2-0 loss to No. 17 Virginia Tech in 2017.
The last time Creighton was shutout at home in any contest was a 1-0 decision versus Villanova on Nov. 5, 2021.
Torres and Kraus Share Creighton Pitch for First Time as Head Coaches
While both Johnny Torres and Michael Kraus (Grand Canyon head coach) more than made their mark on Creighton history as players, the two only overlapped as coaches at Creighton during the 2010 season. Torres was a played for the Bluejays from 1994-97 and returned as a coach in 2007. Kraus played at Creighton from 2003-06.
Schnur Raised Career Save Total 25 Percent
During the California trip junior Nathan Schnur made 11 saves, pushing his career total to 43 saves. He entered the season with 32 saves in 13 matches.
Players Mentioned
Creighton Men's Soccer Highlights & Postgame vs Denver 9-5-25
Saturday, September 06
Creighton Media Availability 9.3.25 - Men's Soccer
Wednesday, September 03
Men's Soccer - Meet the Jays - Edward Morales
Tuesday, September 02
Men's Soccer - Meet the Jays - Omar Ramadan
Tuesday, September 02
