This week’s Futbol Friday finds both Creighton soccer teams continuing their early season success. Both teams won their only matches last week: the men’s team started the weekend on the right foot with a 1-0 overtime win against Wisconsin, while the women’s team travelled to Terre Haute and took the Valley opener 2-0 over Indiana State.
White & Blue Review caught up with Bruce Erickson and Jamie Clark to talk about last week’s games and this week’s matchups.
Bruce Erickson has his team on a six-match win streak
White & Blue Review: You have been able to string a six-match win streak. What has come together for your team as of late?
Bruce Erickson: We are finding ways to win games. We always welcome goals from anyone on the field, but you always want to see your “goal scorers” to step up and really lead in that area. Plus, the defense is really starting to play together, which has really caused some fits for the opposing offense.
WBR: Your first two Valley games are on the road this season, with one victory already in the bag. How does that affect your team?
BE: I actually think that a combination of our aggressive non-conference and starting off on the road in the Valley will benefit us. Getting some good competition in before the conference slate, which is most important to us, really prepared for a very open competition for the league title. Adding in the fact we get two road games out of the way quickly, I think is a bonus.
WBR: You will be traveling to UNI this weekend, what can you tell us about that matchup?
BE: They play their best during the conference schedule. Although they finished at the bottom of the league last season, they took us to overtime here at Morrison Stadium. They will be a tough opponent, and a good test for our team. Also, they have one of the best attackers in the league in Chelsie Hochstedler. She is an explosive, talented player who could start on any team in the Valley.
Jamie Clark walks the sidelines at Morrison Stadium
White & Blue Review: You were able to survive yet another overtime game last week against Wisconsin. Does a game like that help you going into Valley play?
Jamie Clark: I think that the style of play we saw from Wisconsin will help us. As most Creighton fans are aware, we are going to see a lot of defensive minded play in the Valley; teams that may pack the box, if you will. Wisconsin played similar to that, with maybe a few more set pieces and pushes up top. What I hope our guys took from that game is that you need to continue playing to the end and a win can take 110 minutes, but you can’t get away from your game plan.
WBR: You begin your conference schedule tonight. How important is your Valley slate, say compared to the tough non-conference schedule you’ve played so far?
JC: Although the MVC games may not be the exciting “Tulsa or Indiana” games on the schedule, you need to take care of business. The big non-conference games are the ones that will get you into the tournament, but a successful conference run gets you the seeding that you want. Plus, we are Creighton. We want to win this league like we have so many times in the past.
WBR: Ethan Finlay has been pretty solid offensively this season, what other attributes does he bring to the pitch?
JC: It is a rare thing when one of your top players is also your hardest worker, and that is exactly what Ethan is. He brings a great attitude to the field every day and it really rubs off on his teammates.
Ethan Finlay leads Creighton (6-1-0) with 5 goals