Elmar Bolowich and the Creighton Bluejays begin another quest for an elusive national championship Friday, August 22. WBR will preview the 2014 version of the Jays position by position. Read all the previews.
Like Creighton’s defense the midfield did not sustain many losses in the off-season, however those losses are significant.
Creighton’s ability to replace on-pitch leaders Zach Barnes and Bruno Castro and one of its more important off-the-field leaders JT Seger will prove to be one of the biggest challenges of the season.
Barnes was at the heart of everything good Creighton had done over the last two seasons. The talented deep lying midfielder was often the man who started the offense and made the pass before the pass that set up the goals. He was instrumental in linking the two halves and filling his shoes will be a tall order for any player on this roster.
Castro’s tricky play and creativity from the wing position might be less difficult to replace as there a number of players on this current roster with the skill set to pick up in Castro’s absence.
I have felt Seger was heir apparent to Creighton All-American Andrew Duran. Seger, a long time central midfielder, battled a number of serious injuries throughout his career, and like Duran, found a home in the heart of defense. His ability to organize a team and skill on the ball put him in position to captain this team if he could stay healthy. Unfortunately the number and magnitude of injuries were just too much for the Texan who announced his retirement from the Creighton program this spring. Seger’s retirement opens the door to a number of talented players eager to earn playing time at Morrison.
The 2014 Creighton midfield group does not feature a single senior, but is a group bursting with experience. The 2014 midfield however will look much different than its 2013 counterpart. The Jays will switch to a more 4-4-2 formation, or possibly a 4-1-3-2, which means they will play with one less midfielder. This places a great deal of pressure not only on the defense but on the “1” in the system.
You have to have the right player to play this way and Bolowich has told WBR that he feels newcomer Mike Paye is that player. Paye’s skills will allow Creighton’s flair attackers to get out in transition more often and push higher up the field for offensive opportunities.
Christian Blandon (#20)
(WBR/Mike Spomer)
Blandon, the redshirt junior, could very well be the most important member for this squad. It is unclear just where the staff will decide to deploy the versatile Shattuck-St. Mary midfielder. Blandon began his career as a forward but found his niche last season in the midfield. He was very effective in either the deep lying midfield spot next to Barnes or in the more advance attacking midfield role vacated by Choco Gomez the year earlier.
It remains to be seen if Blandon can organize the midfield and become the fulcrum of the team without Barnes, and many believe he could be more effective in the advanced role closer to the goal. However, Blandon possess an inherent fighters ability to win the 50-50 battles and is one of the most tireless players on the team next to Vincent Keller.
Bolowich has proved in the past to build his team around his two deep lying midfielders. Bolowich has told WBR that he feel this spot in his formation is the pseudo-quarterback on the field, and with all Blandon’s experience he is a likely candidate to see time there with either Vincent Keller or Mike Paye.
As we’ve mentioned Blandon also has a nose for the goal. He tallied 3 goals last year and has improved his shot greatly over the last two years. In Bolowich’s high pressure formation he might be able to use Blandon as the team’s #10 to help connect the wing players Fabian Herbers and Timo Pitter while also pairing with Kim or Lopez-Espin to win the ball back quick following a turnover. One thing is clear, wherever Blandon finds himself on the field he will be one of the most important pieces for the Jays this fall.
Timo Pitter (#18)
Pitter enters the season as a one of two Creighton players on the All-Big East preseason first team, the other being Jose Ribas. The junior from Germany is easily Creighton’s most talented offensive player. His left foot has earned him a reputation as one of the strongest in all of NCAA soccer.
Timo led the Jays with 7 goals last season and could easily top the 10-goal mark this year. Bolowich seems to like Timo out wide right so he can cut in with the ball and unleash shots with his left foot. If there is one aspect of Timo’s game that needs improvement it is his stamina. Timo was not a 90-minute player last season.
Following Sean Kim’s injury, Timo was asked to do a lot of work off the ball, which clearly tired him out to being the player he was at the beginning of the season with Kim spear-heading the attack. With Kim back on the roster Pitter can focus on capitalizing off the turnovers that players like Blandon and Kim create with their high pressure. Pitter has also formed a good partnership with right back Vincent Keller and seemed to work well with freshman Lucas Stauffer in the spring season. If fully fit Pitter and Herbers on the wings could form one of the most dynamic attacks in Creighton history.
Fabian Herbers (#14)
Herbers was a revelation for the Jays over last season. He was one of the most effective freshman in all of college soccer. However, he seemed to get worn down toward the end of the season.
Teams began designed defense to stop the powerful German attacker. Like Pitter, Herbers was placed out wide opposite his good foot so he could cut in with the ball and rip shots with his right. Herbers can also play up top at as a striker or in the middle as the teams #10 if in a pinch. Interestingly enough the Creighton roster lists him as a M/D which is interesting because we’ve never seen Fabian play deep in the midfield.
Herbers partnered well with Pitter-Blandon-Perez in the Blue-White scrimmage which seemed to be the team’s starting offense. In that formation Herbers and Blandon seemed to constantly shift, trading from striker to teams attacking midfielder.
Herbers was efficient as always bagging two goals in the scrimmage. Herbers might challenge Pitter for teams scoring lead. He netted 3 goals last year, all near the beginning of the season. With a healthy Kim and Lopez-Espin to help lead the line Herbers could now focus on playing his role as a midfielder. Like Pitter, Herbers is much less effective on the ball when he is asked to do lots off the ball. Thus with Kim back Herbers can concentrate on what he does best, shooting and scoring.
Ricky Perez (#10)
Perez was an enigma last year. His potential is limitless. Like Hines-Ike, Perez spent time playing with his hometown club Colorado Rapids first team this summer. The Rapids product has been one of their best club prospects for years now.
Perez started 10 of the Jays’ 20 matches last season, many of those games seeing him out wide on the right or in the attacking midfield role. It is widely believed that Perez is this squads X Factor. To a degree we know what Blandon, Pitter, and Herbers are going to give us, but Perez seems to have much more to prove. A big year from Perez could lead the Jays to a Big East title.
Perez is comfortable on the ball and has a lethal right foot only matched by fellow Colorado native Hines-Ike. Despite his up and down season last year Perez seemed to get more and more comfortable as the year went on and had a good spring season. The midfielder is poised for a breakout season. He could really play anywhere in the attacking midfield line, and should see plenty of time at the attacking midfielder role throughout the season.
Mike Paye (#5)
Paye enters the season with no fan-fare and not much hype, but let me tell you Paye will be an essential cog for the 2014 Jays. The diminutive midfielder committed to Creighton in 2012 out of high school but academic issue saw him land at Junior College powerhouse Tyler JC. Once there Paye started every match for the Apache and led them to back to back NJCAA National Championship matches, and one title.
Paye is a Bolowich product, having played for the Creighton head coach with Triangle United. Despite being two years younger than his club mates, he was a regular starter in the midfield. Paye possess strength on the ball few in college soccer have.
At 5-6 Paye is a perfect size for a deep lying midfielder. He wins 50-50 balls and will be the teams quarterback on the field. During the Blue-White scrimmage it was evident he was dictating the pace and flow of the match. He is someone the team has already gravitated too as a leader on and off the field. Paye will not fill up the box score, nor does he have incredible moves on the ball, but he’s the type of player that can turn a match on its head without you even knowing its happening.
I was told by a member of the Creighton staff in 2012, when Mike first committed to Creighton, that Mike would have likely been a starter Day 1 his freshman year. Paye knows the tempo Bolowich likes and will be looked to drive the team this season.
Bolowich told WBR that he sees Paye as the type of player that can be the “1” in the 4-1-3-2 formation who organizes the squad and does all the connecting. Look for Paye to start from the onset of the season.
Fernando Castellanos (#11)
Like Paye, Castellanos was a member of the successful Tyler JC program. Like Paye, Nando was a member one of the most successful club teams in North Carolina, CASL, a club side Bolowich is very familiar with.
Castellanos is a Bruno Castro-type player. He can play earlier on the wing or in the center of the midfield. Castellanos scored 10 goals and notched 5 assists for the Apaches last season on his way to 1st Team Junior College All-American honors. Castellanos partnered with Paye on the Blue squad in the deep lying midfield role.
Castellanos and Paye played off each other well, but in Creighton’s new system there will only be one deep lying midfielder and Paye looked more polished in that role than Nando. I would not be surprised if Castellanos finds himself in a more attacking role as the season progresses.
Lucas Stauffer (#12)
The talented midfielder from Shattuck-St Mary’s proved himself a quality member of this team during the spring season. As a freshman Stauffer entered the team with high expectations. The technically superb player originally from Kentucky is a member of the United States Men’s National Futsal team. Futsal is an indoor version of soccer based off technical skill with the ball at ones feet. Players must possess incredible ball skills and accuracy, and Lucas was the youngest ever member of the US World Cup team.
His skills on the court translated on to the field as he was seen as at hot prospect by a number of professional clubs in Denmark and Holland who were hoping Lucas would fore-go his a collegiate career and jump right in to the professional ranks. Throughout the spring it was clear Stauffer was ready for this level of play. He has a good motor and is uber-aggressive style fits right exactly what Creighton seemed to be lacking at times last year.
Stauffer is not afraid to mix it up with anyone on the field and goes into every play hard. He is not foolhardy with his challenges and has the ability to read a game well. On the ball Stauffer is exactly what you would expect from a Futsal National Teamer, a wizard. He has made passes no player sine Choco Gomez, could even dream up. His vision alone is years beyond his age. Stauffer is a dark horse starting candidate at a number of positions.
I can see the staff playing him as an attacking midfielder, deep lying midfielder, winger or wing back. In the Blue-White scrimmage Stauffer started with the starting defense at the right back spot. If Keller does get pushed into midfield, look for Stauffer to get the start. I can only imagine the type offense created with both Stauffer and Ribas terrorizing the flanks.
Noah Franke (#13)
Franke is the prototypical Creighton player. He’s been one of the top performers for his club team, Orlando City U18s, the last couple years. He’s started every one of their matches and has captained them at every level. His consistency is matched only by his work ethic and drive. Already he’s made an impression as one of the most hardworking players on the roster.
For Orlando City, he’s played primarily as a central midfielder, a position his game translates well to at Creighton. He has a number of qualities that do remind me of outgoing talisman Zach Barnes. Franke does the little things that turn in to bigger things.
Noah will not fill a stat sheet with his goals or assists, but his passing accuracy and composure on the ball is very advanced for his age. He spent time playing with the Orlando City U23s this summer, gaining valuable experience with much older competition. Franke was paired with David Abidor in the Blue-White scrimmage in the center of midfield.
Noah did a decent job of connecting the White squad, but most of his focus during that game was spent defending Pitter-Herbers-Blandon an aspect of Franke’s game that needs improvement. Noah is likely behind Paye, Blandon and Keller for time at the central midfielder role, but as we’ve mentioned in detail, Creighton now possess the ability to shift players around, and if they do move players around I am confident Noah can do a job for the Jays this season.
Myles Englis (#16)
Englis like many of the Creighton players spent the summer playing in Florida. However a serious injury to his foot in the first practice of the year could sideline Myles for the first half of the season.
Jacob Cini (#15)
The left-footer from Ohio by way of FSV Erlangen Bruck FC in Germany is just another in the line of talented German based players Bolowich has been able to discover. Cini played high school ball in Ohio before making the jump abroad to test himself in the lower leagues of Germany. Cini returns to the states with his talented left foot. His size, shot and abilities are very similar to Pitter, and looked to Cini to battle for playing time at that position behind Timo.