This is the fourth installment of White & Blue Review’s preview of the 2010 Creighton women’s soccer team. Join us every day this week as we take a look at a different part of Bruce Erickson’s club, leading up to his team’s regular season opener Friday, August 20, against South Dakota State.
Admit it. Every time you hear the adage “defense wins championships” you cringe at the statement’s clichéd simplicity. That’s fine. You’re entitled to those feelings. But more often than not, no matter the sport or the level of competition, the proclamation holds true.
And while Creighton’s defense didn’t win the Bluejays a title in 2009, the record-setting efforts by CU defenders definitely put the Jays in a position to play for a championship. Bruce Erickson’s defense set school records (and placed well nationally) in goals against average (0.60; 13th best in NCAA) and shutouts (11; 31st in NCAA).
The Bluejays return experienced players to the defense in 2010, led by Claire Zach and Kelly Connolly. Zach, one of Creighton’s four seniors, earned honorable mention All-MVC as a junior after starting all 21 games for CU. She has worked tirelessly to improve during each of her years on the Hilltop: Zach played in 5 matches as a freshman and 18 as a sophomore before earning a co-captaincy as a junior. Simply put, she is a leader.
“Our back four is very good and very strong, led by Claire,” Erickson told WBR. “She was terrific in both exhibition matches this fall.”
Creighton senior Claire Zach
Connolly joins Zach in the defensive backfield after garnering first-team All-MVC accolades in 2009 as a sophomore. Like Zach, Connolly started 21 matches. She scored 4 goals on 11 shots on goal (23 shots total), with two of her tallies proving to be game-winning goals.
Junior Macy Mauer joins fellow upperclassmen Zach and Connolly on defense, and brings 27 career starts to the position. After a rookie campaign in 2008 that saw her earn MVC All-Freshman honors, injuries cost Mauer some time in 2009.
Second-year Bluejay Kat Wright came to Creighton via Arizona, and she started 8 matches as a redshirt freshman at CU last season. She missed more than a month of games due to injuries, but started both exhibitions this fall.
Speaking of injuries, Tara Bailey is back for her senior season after missing all of 2009 hurt. She’s looking to fulfill the promise she showed as a freshman, when she earned honorable mention All-MVC recognition. As a sophomore she started all of Creighton’s 19 matches and logged the most minutes of any CU player. She will add depth and experience to the defense.
Sophomores Katie Murphy (3 starts in 2009), Kelsey Crocker (2 starts), and Lauren Wong (2 appearances) join freshmen Shonna Fraser and Becca Spinar in a quest for more playing time in what Erickson calls a stingy defense.