Connor Sparrow has been the man in the net for the Creighton Bluejays soccer team so far in 2014. Sparrow, who transferred to Creighton from UMKC a few years back, spent last year backing up Alex Bolowich. Sparrow looked set to sub for Bolowich again until an injury forced the incumbent started out of the opening weeks of the season.
Sparrow — a standout performer in high school for STL Scott Gallagher, one of the Midwest’s premier academies and transfer from UMKC — was thrust into the starting line-up against two of Creighton toughest non-conference opponents, including the highly anticipated match-up versus Stanford and U.S. Men’s National Team prospect Jordan Morris.
WBR caught up with Sparrow following the keeper’s excellent performance against the Cardinal and Santa Clara last weekend, which led to Big East Goalkeeper of the Week and College Soccer News National Team of the Week honors.
WBR: You were a key member of STL Scott Gallagher in the USSDA. Talk about what you learned being part of the Academy system?
Connor Sparrow: The main thing I learned from my coaches at STL SG was to continually find a place where competition is at a high level, and in St. Louis there are plenty of great players. I was really close with my goalie trainer there Tim Kelly (Current SLU Assistant Coach). Coach Kelly always taught me to never settle, that nothing is ever good enough, everything can get better, everything can get perfected. That’s my philosophy.
WBR: Why did you leave UMKC after being given the #1 Jersey as the squad’s starting Goalkeeper as a freshman?
CS: I wanted to challenge myself more. At UMKC I felt I would get complacent there, and I wanted to keep pushing myself to try and become a better player. I hoped that coming to Creighton would push me to become the best I could be and I feel like that is happening here.
WBR: The level of competition at Creighton is higher than UMKC & STL SG, what is the next step for Connor Sparrow?
CS: There’s no doubt that the next step for everyone in the locker room here at Creighton is to play at a professional level, and not every squad can say that. I want to be part of a team that everyone’s goal is to play as a pro. That elevates the quality and speed of play. I feel that Creighton is as close as any NCAA program to a professional environment.
WBR: The team had a tremendous weekend against two top programs in Stanford and Santa Clara, and you personally did not let in a single goal. How is your relationship with the back-line developing and what did that weekend mean to you?
CS: The relationship with the centerbacks has been great, especially with Eric DeJulio. I spent the entire summer with Eric at IMG. DeJulio and I are very comfortable, Hines-Ike and I are very comfortable, and the back-line we are talking more. We seem to be even more organized than last year despite the loss of Eric Miller. Everyone’s contributing and everyone’s working for each other.
WBR: How big was last weekend’s double over Stanford & Santa Clara?
CS: The main thing was that we stayed organized and never lost our composure. Both Stanford and Santa Clara have high level, professional quality players and it took a full team effort to keep them out of our net. It was a total effort from out back eight, our defensive line and midfield needed to be disciplined and we were. We kept the shape that Coach wanted and things turned out well.
WBR: How are classes going?
CS: They’re good. I’m a nursing major and started clinicals last week. I’m not sure what was more stressful the patient’s at Creighton University Medical Center or the Stanford/Santa Clara offenses. Whatever the case I’m glad they’re both complete.
Creighton keeper Connor Sparrow (WBR/Mike Spomer — CLICK TO BUY)