On this week’s episode of our summer series on the greatest games in Creighton history, Johnny Torres and Ross Paule help us take a look back at the 1996 Elite Eight win over Fresno State that sent the Bluejays to the College Cup for the first time in program history.
Before Torres returned to coach the men’s program and before Paule took over the head gig for the women’s soccer team, they were a dynamic duo on the pitch together from 1994-96, starting all 63 matches in their three seasons together at Creighton. In the fall of 1996, Paule finished second on the team behind Torres with 11 goals scored. Six of those came during conference play to help the Jays finish 5-0-0 and earn their fifth straight Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title. That performance earned Paule the MVC Player of the Year award, making him the only player in program history to win MVC Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, MVC Player of the Year, and MVC Tournament MVP.
For Torres, his third season in Omaha was a banner one for the future hall-of-famer. He recorded career-highs in goals with 18 and points with 44, leading Creighton in both categories, on his way to earning the first of his back-to-back National Player of the Year and First Team All-America honors.
Although there aren’t any close-ups, instant replays, or graphics on this broadcast, it won’t be too difficult to spot these two wreaking havoc in the attacking third. As you follow along while Torres and Paule do their thing on the field, they also open up the memory banks and retell some fun stories about why this group in particular was able to achieve more than any of its predecessors. Enjoy this look back at a landmark win that forever raised the bar for the Creighton men’s soccer program.
