Creighton topped Notre Dame 1-0 in front of more than 3,000 fans at Morrison Stadium Sunday. The exhibition match pitted two preseason top 10 teams, coached by two of collegiate soccer’s “Mount Rushmore” coaches —Notre Dame’s Bobby Clark (father of former CU skipper Jamie) and Creighton’s Elmar Bolowich.
Notre Dame, like Creighton, is coming off an excellent season in 2012, and are looking to replace two valuable seniors. Similarly, the Irish are preparing to compete in a new conference. Thus, it was fair to say that this match-up was going to be a good measuring stick for just how the early 2013 season would look for the Jays.
Measure up the Jays did.
Creighton came out right away bossing the match, keeping possession-knocking it around the midfield. Combination play between seniors Bruno Castro and Zach Barnes and sophomore Christian Blandon was very impressive. Danger man Timo Pitter was deployed out wide on the right. His lethal left foot is more valuable to the Jays on the right as he is able to come into the field and strike a ball at goal.
Creighton Starting XI vs. Notre Dame
Some of the more interesting notes include how the Jays lined up to start the match.
Out was incumbent right back Bentio Amaral who has looked superb at that spot. However Vincent Keller, who is the ultimate utility man for the 2013 Jays, is too talented to leave on the bench. One of the big issues that Creighton faces to begin the season will be where to find spots and playing time for all its talent.
Another position to watch was the attacking midfield spot. Senior Sonny Makh started off there and connected well. The English midfielder knows exactly what Bolowich wants from that role and is willing to combine with other midfielders and help back on defense when needed. Freshman Ricardo Perez, Bruno Castro, and Pitter also saw time there against a well-organized and disciplined Irish defense.
Creighton’s best player on the day was junior Jose Ribas. It is evident that Creighton plans to attack from the left as Jose Ribas won nearly every 50-50 ball on defense, and made a number of marauding runs that had Notre Dame utterly helpless the entire match. Ribas will be key to the Jays offense this season, despite playing as left back.
Another bright spot was Creighton’s back line and goalkeeper Alex Bolowich. This was the first time Creighton fans were able to see Miller and Hines-Ike play together and by all accounts Creighton should be excited for the future. The pair worked well, disrupting the Irish attack all day. A few miscues, which should be assumed at this stage of the year, could have cost the Jays if not for the stellar play of Alex Bolowich.
Bolowich made a number of critical plays on the afternoon and by my count made over 7 saves, one of which was a stone cold save on a Notre Dame break-away. Bolowich commanded his back four, keeping them aware of what was going on all game.
Lastly, it is safe to say that senior Carlos McCrary has won the starting role up top for the Jays to begin the season. McCrary was used more as a sub last season, yet this year he appears hungry to grab the starting spot over fellow senior Sean Kim and NC State transfer Zabarle Kollie. McCrary was active all day. He showed his trademark powerful runs, hustled down long balls, held play up and pressed from the striker role all afternoon, and eventually earned the only goal of the game for the Jays. This is a good sign for the Jays as McCrary is the type of striker who scores goals in bunches (he netted the only goal in the Blue-White scrimmage). McCrary is capable of getting to 10 goals this season if he continues this work-rate and continues to think positive.
Kollie came on a few times in the match and showed glimpses of why Creighton wanted to pry him away from the Wolfpack. He’s comfortable on the ball and taking people on, and he also has what one fan told me was “a bit of an attitude.” Creighton needs players that share in Kollie’s confidence and bravado as they enter the Big East.
Creighton will be back in action this Friday as the take on Nebraska-Omaha in the Omaha Derby, looking for revenge after the Mavs took out the Jays in spring play.
Look for a detailed breakdown of each position coming soon on White and Blue Review.