Saturday, April 16, marks the sixth “Kicks for a Cure” fundraising event. Fans of soccer and supporters of cancer research efforts will pack into Creighton’s Morrison Stadium for four matches.
In the five-plus years since the event started, “Kicks for a Cure” has raised more than three-quarters of a million dollars for “Liz’s Legacy,” a charitable program that supports cancer research, education, and patient care at UNMC Eppley Cancer Center and Creighton University Hereditary Cancer Center.
During that time, some of the best collegiate soccer teams in the country have participated in the day-long event. This year, after a high school girl’s match between Lincoln Southwest and Marian (11 a.m.), and women’s matches pitting Nebraska-Omaha against Hastings College (1:30 p.m.) and Creighton versus Nebraska-Lincoln (4:30 p.m.), the Creighton men’s soccer team will host Saint Louis University (7:00 p.m.).
It will be the first “Kicks for a Cure” event for new Bluejays head coach Elmar Bolowich, but he is ready for the weekend.
“It is a great event, and we are very excited to be able to participate,” Bolowich said. “Our fans will be able to see some great soccer with the women’s team taking on Nebraska, which should be a very exciting game. We will host Saint Louis, and it will be great to play at Morrison Stadium. It looks like it will be a beautiful day for soccer.”
In addition to sponsorships, donations, and tickets to tonight’s banquet, “Kicks for a Cure” counts on sales of game tickets to the general public for a portion of its fundraising. All tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youths, with children 5 or younger admitted free. All seats are general admission, and you can come and go from the games all day.
The nightcap features the first men’s soccer home game since the Bluejays beat Denver 3-2 on March 26. Since then, the Jays have scuffled a bit, tying Tulsa 2-2 and Air Force 0-0, and losing 1-0 to New Mexico. When asked what his team took from the two games against the Falcons and Lobos last weekend, Bolowich was frank in his assessment.
“Not a whole lot, unfortunately. I thought our attack was stale and we were unable to capitalize on a few good chances. We were not able to finish all weekend,” he said. “I guess one positive was that I was pleased with how we played defense. We played well as a unit on defense.
“We were pretty thin going into the weekend, and having two games in one day was tough. Not that it is an excuse, by any means.”
Fans who attend “Kicks for a Cure” won’t see speedy Dion Acoff on the pitch for the Bluejays, as he is out with a wrist injury for the remainder of spring play. Bolowich says his absence will have an effect on how CU plays the rest of its games, as Acoff brings a lot of speed to the game, but that the talented junior-to-be will be OK.
“He played great against Denver, with two goals, and he has been to all of our training sessions, so he knows the style we want to play,” Bolowich said. “He will be ready in the fall, and we are excited to have his speed.”
Bolowich and the rest of the Creighton soccer community are excited to have fans come out and support a noble cause. So make sure you get to the “Kicks for a Cure” event Saturday, wearing your white and blue.