The Bluejays leave the Hilltop to face national powerhouse Maryland in the first game of a four game away swing. Not much needs to be said about the importance of this game for the Creighton men.
These two sides’ last meaningful game was in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, when Creighton lost 1-0 on a late goal scored by Terp freshman Rodney Wallace (now of the Portland Timbers, and, incidentally, high school opponent of your author). It’s also the Hilltoppers’ first regular-season game against an ACC opponent since 2001, but it’s nothing extraordinary for Elmar Bolowich. He faces rival head coach Sasho Cirovski, who’s renowned as one of the best in the college game. Bolowich and his players have said repeatedly that the Jays plan to play their own game, not Maryland’s. That will be crucially important for Creighton to get a result tonight.
Attackers Patrick Mullins and Sunny Jane each have five goals to their name this season, but the key matchup to watch in this game will be Maryland’s Casey Townsend against Creighton’s Bruno Castro. Townsend, a senior midfielder — arguably the most talented collegiate midfielder in the nation — is the catalyst of the Terrapin offense. He has ten goals already this season.
Ten goals. Ten.
Castro will have big boots to fill tonight, expected to stand in for José Gomez, Creighton’s #10 and the conductor of the Bluejay attack. Meanwhile, Creighton’s highly-touted shutout streak will be in danger tonight against Maryland’s high-octane offense. Creighton will undoubtedly want to score the first goal and control the pace of the game. The Terps, though, have home field advantage and the most hostile environment in the country, which has contributed to the total destruction to which they’ve subjected their opponents. They’ve faltered only once, with a 0-0 tie at Seton Hall.
This is the beginning of an absolutely brutal stretch of the season, and will be the biggest test of the regular season for the White and Blue. Can’t wait.
The live stream of tonight’s game is provided by the University of Maryland Athletic Department, and will be shown at the Old Mattress Factory, at 13th and Cass. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Central.
