[dropcap]It’s[/dropcap] fall, in omaha, which can only mean one thing: Elmar Bolowich has the Jays rolling.
Creighton has made no secret it’s goal this year is to at least reach the College Cup in Cary, NC. “We want to win the whole thing, and we can,” Junior midfield destroyer Mike Paye told WBR last week. Paye continued, “For a few of us it would be a sort-of homecoming situation heading back to North Carolina. Myself, Fernando, Alex, Z and Coach all developed our skills in that area, so it would be great to go back and compete for a National Title.”
Mike Paye has been a key part of Creighton’s dominant play. (Photo by Mike Spomer for WBR)
“Our team is so incredibly deep, the coaching staff recruited really well. We get along so well, and our games seem to compliment each other perfectly,” said midfielder Fernando Castellanos, who was drawn to Creighton by fellow Tyler JC star Mike Paye. “When I was looking around at schools, all Mikey kept telling me was what was going on at Creighton and how something special was happening there. I trust Mikey, he’s a leader.”
Midfielder Fernando Castellanos has been the architect of many of Creighton’s most dangerous offensive plays. (Photo by Mike Spomer for WBR)
The two Junior College players have been integral to Creighton’s success. Paye has fortified the defensive midfield role, allowing Creighton to get more players forward, while his leadership and poise on the ball is evident and gives others on the teams a sense of calm. Meanwhile, Castellanos has been a revelation. Don’t let his three points fool you — he’s been the architect of many of Creighton’s most dangerous moves offensively, and is constantly back-tracking to help break up opponents’ offensive movements.
Creighton’s late game heroics in Queens on Wednesday night (winning 1-0 on a goal in the final minute by Fabian Herbers) has taken the Jays to 11-1-1, thanks to a six game winning streak. The Jays sit atop the Big East standings at 4-0-0. At this point the Jays four victories in conference have come against the bottom of the league, with matches at Xavier and home matches with Marquette, Georgetown and Providence to come.
Make no mistake, these next few weeks are the most important of the season for the Jays.
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[dropcap]This[/dropcap] might be the strongest Creighton squad that Bolowich has guided since the inaugural Creighton squad that he guided to the College Cup in his first year on the Hilltop. Unfortunately, that depth is being tested.
Creighton lost Brendan Hines-Ike a month ago in what are still uncertain circumstances. Hines-Ike is arguably one of the top pure defenders at the NCAA level, yet despite his loss, the Jays kept rolling.
Ricky Lopez-Espin suffered a torn ACL and MCL, ending his season. (Photo by Mike Spomer for WBR)
10 days ago Ricky Lopez-Espin went down after a ‘sloppy challenge’ against Drake. He sustained a torn MCL and ACL, which effectively keeps him on the shelf for 8-10 months. Lopez-Espin was one of the top freshman in the country and made a real impact for the team. He burst onto the scene with a number of important goals, including the eventual game-winner against now-#9 RPI Stanford. Lopez-Espin truly evolved as the season went on. Opponents scouting reports began to focus on the towering freshman, who quickly turned from a finisher to a creator. His hold-up play and connection with Timo Pitter and Herbers ignited the two dangerous attacking Germans and put the two of them on the current tear they’re on. Lopez-Espin is one of the most positive student-athletes I have ever had to fortune of covering. There is little doubt he will be back better than ever.
5th year Senior Sean Kim has been providing depth following Lopez-Espin’s injury, but it is clear Kim’s knees are still very painful. Likewise, Castellanos seems to battling injury and might be out for an extended amount of time.
No rest for the weary as these next few weeks are the most important of the season for the Jays. The Jays face the ‘upper half’ of the Big East in Xavier (Away), Marquette (Home), Providence (Home) and Georgetown (Home).
The Jays need to secure home field advantage for as long as possible in the NCAA tournament and a top 8 RPI will go a long way in ensuring extra soccer at Morrison Stadium in November/December. As of October 13 the Jays official NCAA RPI is #10 and with matches against Xavier (#37), Providence (#19), Marquette (#20) and Georgetown (#8) the chances of improving their RPI are very real.
Easier said than done, but one thing is for sure, if anyone can do it, it’ll be Bolowich.