Creighton Bluejays
Big East
Creighton has been the model of consistency in only their second season in the Big East, winning the regular season title. Coach Elmar Bolowich’s squad attacks and defends as a unit with ten players scoring on the season and the third best goals against average in the nation. The unanimous Big East Offensive Player of the Year, Fabian Herbers, not only leads the team with nine goals, he is one of their best playmakers with seven assist. They dropped points in four matches this season and all four teams were ranked in the November 9th Top 25 coaches poll.
2014 Record: 14-3-2, 7-1-1
Coach: Elmar Bolowich
Good Results: 8/29 Stanford (2-0), 11/7 Providence (3-0)
Bad Results: 9/20 Saint Louis (0-1), 10/25 Georgetown (0-1)
Why They Can Surprise?
Coach and players with prior College Cup experience and a top three defense is a good start to the resume. Creighton has not lost to poor or significantly lesser opponents. The Bluejays can score goals even when Fabian Herbers is marked out of the game, as ten players contributed to the team’s 29 goals and Creighton can grind out 1-0 results all the way to the College Cup.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Does Creighton have that next level talent to score against the best defenses in the nation? They were shutout in both losses, at home versus Saint Louis and Georgetown. It would be a true shock if they are bounced out of the first two rounds, but once they face a top team with a strong defense can they breakthrough?
Key Strikers:
Fabian Herbers, Sophomore, 9 goals, 7 assists
Timo Pitter, Junior, 6 goals, 7 assists
Key Midfielders:
Ricardo Perez, Sophomore, 3 goals, 2 assists
Mike Paye, Junior, 1 goal, 0 assists
Christian Blandon, Junior, 0 goals, 2 assists
Key Defenders:
Jose Ribas, Senior, 0 goals, 3 assists
Vincent Keller, Junior, 1 goal, 0 assists
Eric DeJulio, Junior, 0 goals, 0 assists
Key Goalkeepers:
Connor Sparrow, Junior, 0.51 goals against average, .836 save percentage, 9 shutouts
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 1.61 (49th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 0.49 (3, 1)
Shutout Percentage: .56 (8, 1)
Save Percentage: .839 (10, 2)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2013 First Round Lost to Seattle
2012 Second Round Defeated Washington
2012 Third Round Defeated Akron
2012 Quarterfinals Defeated Connecticut
2012 National Semifinals Lost to Indiana
2011 Second Round Defeated Northern Illinois
2011 Third Round Defeated UC Santa Barbara
2011 Quarterfinals Defeated South Florida
2011 National Semifinals Lost to Charlotte
2010 First Round Defeated New Mexico
2010 Second Round Lost to SMU
2008 Second Round Defeated Tulsa
2008 Third Round Defeated Connecticut
2008 National Semifinals Lost to Maryland
2007 Second Round Defeated SMU
2007 Third Round Lost to Illinois-Chicago
2006 First Round Lost to Washington
2005 First Round Defeated Lafayette
2005 Second Round Defeated Duke
2005 Third Round Defeated Penn State
2005 Quarterfinals Lost to Clemson
2004 Second Round Defeated Northwestern
2004 Third Round Lost to Maryland
2003 First Round Defeated UMKC
2003 Second Round Defeated San Diego
2003 Third Round Defeated Virginia
2003 Quarterfinals Lost to St. John's
*all team stats through 11/9
See All Men’s Soccer Postseason Capsules
