Creighton’s annual White-Blue scrimmage continues to pose one of the more difficult fixtures on the Bluejays schedule. This intrasquad match has progressively become a battle between two of the more talented starting XIs in the Midwest.
Related: Creighton Bluejays Men’s Soccer 2015 Scrimmage Photo Gallery
The Bluejays typically line up the team’s projected starting strikers and midfielders on one roster (white) and face off against the team’s projected starting defense and goalkeeper (blue).
The Jays offense included reigning Big East Player and Offensive Player of the Year in Fabian Herbers and Timo Pitter.
Herbers started up top along with Myles Englis, who had an amazing summer for PDL side IMG Bradenton. He was second on that side in both goals and assists. English translated that success into a solid showing during Creighton’s recent trip to Germany, where he netted a number of goals against top competition.
Mylis Englis scores in 2015 Scrimmage (Click for photos.whiteanbluereview.com)
Englis is bit of a wildcard for the 2015 Bluejays. He’s often been compared to former Jay and current MLS All-Star Ethan Finlay due to his incredible speed, work rate, and nose around the goal. The only thing that has been holding Myles back at Creighton has been injuries. If he can stay fit for the Jays he could be key piece on offense as opposing sides plan to neutralize Herbers and Pitter.
Englis’ confidence was clear during the scrimmage.
He was a pest against the team’s starting defense and had a number of great chances. He scored the only goal of the match after beautiful set-up from Herbers. If not for a pointblank save from Connor Sparrow in the second half, Englis would have has another.
White’s midfield of Fernando Castellanos, Mikey Paye, Noah Franke, and Pitter constantly fed the two strikers with excellent service. As always, Paye kept the game in front of him, connecting well with long-time teammate Castellanos, who came out early in the half with a knock. The White side barely missed a beat as Swedish import Joel Rystrand filled in seamlessly. Franke clearly benefited from the Germany trip and looks poised to breakthrough into the team’s top rotation of players.
Paye did well to disrupt Blue’s offense, yet a pair of true freshman, Peter Prescott and Bryce Gibson, put in solid outings for the White defense. The towering freshmen from Portland and Kansas City were easy to spot and did well to contain Creighton’s most dangerous true striker in Ricky Lopez-Espin, who looked near top form following his nine-month layoff due to an injury he suffered last fall.
Ricky Lopez-Espin (Click to photos.whiteandbluereview.com)
There was buzz around Morrison Stadium about the two big central defenders the Jays brought in.
Gibson, at 6-4, is excellent with the ball at his feet. In the second half he was deployed as a striker, and wowed the crowd with his speed and moves with the ball. Look for him to see time on the field as a freshman. Like Gibson, Prescott showed well. Peter was dominant in the air and did well to mark Lopez-Espin. At 6-2, Prescott has the frame to play right away, and with Mitch LaGro’s ability to play as a fullback, Prescott could see minutes in the center of defense as the season progresses.
Next to Prescott and Gibson was returning Big East All-Freshman honoree Lucas Stauffer.
Stauffer is the team’s most dangerous 1-v-1 player.
His futsal background is evident as the ball is glued to his foot. Most of White’s best attacking moves were initiated by Stauffer, who was likely placed on the team’s second-string defense because of his ability to get forward and link up with the team’s starting attackers. Stauffer will likely be deployed in a role similar to that of Jose Ribas, who from the fullback position was the quarterback to the Jays offense.
Connor Sparrow (Click to photos.whiteandbluereview.com)
Freshman Connor Ramlo filled in well on the backline for White, who kept a clean sheet with Michael Kluver in goal.
Kluver will be one of the most talented back-up keepers in the Big East and provides Creighton with a perfect replacement should something happen to incumbent Connor Sparrow.
While the White squad contained Creighton’s starting strikers and midfield, top goalkeeper Sparrow led the Blue squad along with Eric DeJulio, LaGro, transfer Stefan Wutte, and Creighton captain Vincent Keller.
Despite a summer injury DeJulio is locked in to one of the team’s starting centerback roles. One more important things to watch is who will partner with him. LaGro? Prescott? Keller? Gibson?
Keller lined up next to DeJulio in the center of defense.
Heading into the season one of the team’s biggest question marks was who would pair with DeJulio at centerback. During the spring it was redshirt freshman LaGro, who played as right back during the scrimmage. Keller, who can play nearly every position on the field, could be the Jays’ answer to their central defense question. Keller has all the qualities one wants in a central defender. He thinks multiple steps ahead of play, dictates the pace and helps maintain the Jays shape.
Elmar Bolowich has shown a tendency to convert senior leaders to the heart of his defense. A few seasons ago he moved Andrew Ribiero from the midfield to defense, a move that turned him in to an All-American. Similarly, last season David Abidor was essential to the Jays success as the team’s rock in the center of defense.
The Jays brought back more than just experience from Germany.
They also were able to sign freshman Felix Kollmannthaler who had professional offers on the table. The 6-1 defender was the Blue side’s holding midfielder, but is another piece who could slot in to centerback as the season progresses. Fellow freshman Elias Helbig had some nice moments next to Kollmannthaler, as did Brock Fitzgerald, who is tireless in the midfield.
Evan Waldrep (8) shined for the Blue (Click for photos.whiteandbluereview.com)
It was freshman Evan Waldrep who came in for Blue that shined. Waldrep graduated high school early to join up with the Jays last semester. Like any freshman Waldrep made mistakes, but what is impressive with Evan is his ability to not dwell on those errors. He is confident on the ball and connects well with all positions on the field. He is able to wiggle out of tight spaces and can deliver a decisive final pass.
Not many teams in the nation can trot out a ‘back-up’ offense that includes the nation’s Junior College leader in assists next to a former United States U20 player, however that just what the Jays Blue squad had.
Diego Bacellar was a revelation with JC powerhouse Monroe College. He is excellent going forward and combined well with Lopez-Espin, who looks close to 100%. Ricky did not wear any brace and looked confident in his legs out on the pitch. Despite little service throughout the game, Lopez-Espin had a handful of great opportunities that more times than not he will finish. As he continues to gain match fitness he will likely be the team’s x-factor. A healthy Lopez-Espin, paired with Herbers, Pitter and Englis, could be too much for nearly any team in the nation to stop.
Diego Bacellar (Click for photos.whiteandbluereview.com)
Rising junior Ricardo Perez was rested during the scrimmage from a knock picked up prior to the Germany trip. His inclusion in the already deep midfield means the Jays can throw a number of different looks at opposition.
Creighton’s next scrimmage comes in exhibition form against Bradley Tuesday night. The Braves will host the Bluejays for a match televised on ESPN3 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
Editors’ Note: The original version of this commentary included reference to the wrong player, Kyle Ericson. It has been corrected.