Creighton’s season was at a crossroads following their 0-1 loss to Georgetown last Saturday night.
The Jays and Hoyas battled all night with very few chances for either squad. It was a defensive error that lead to Georgetown starlet Arun Basuljevic’s game-winning goal.
The loss seemingly dropped the Jays further in the Big East standings (first to fourth) than it did overall in national polls. For my money Georgetown and Creighton are the two top programs this year in the Big East, and have the best shot of making a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
On the injury front it appears the Jays have settled on a 13-15 man rotation. Injuries to Ricky Lopez-Espin, Myles Englis, and Fernando Castellanos have significantly trimmed the roster. While it is unclear right now if Englis will return, it seems the staff will only burn his medical redshirt unless dire circumstances arise, and the Jays are not too far from that happening.
As it stands right now the Jays are playing with 1-2 subs a match, with Sean Kim, Noah Franke, and Alex Prusa providing cover if needed. Kim, who returned to Creighton with serious knee concerns, has yet to return to top form. Franke, a freshman, has come into the squad and been its most dynamic player off the bench. Prusa has provided cover in every area of the pitch. His ability to hold down the left back spot gives the staff the freedom to move Jose Ribas up the field in a more dangerous position. If the Jays are to make a run at the College Cup these three will be key to helping them advance.
Creighton’s Fabian Herbers (WBR/Mike Spomer) $ CLICK TO BUY $
The spark-plug of the squad has been sophomore Fabian Herbers. His Big East road goals against St. John’s and Xavier kept the Jays afloat these last two weeks. His effort on and off the ball has greatly improved compared with October his freshman year. Herbers is fit, potent with the ball at his feet, and — maybe most frightening for opposing coaches — increasingly willing to get others involved.
Wednesday against No. 24 Marquette, Herbers was behind a number of threatening moves in the first half. Herbers has been deployed up top, but is finding pockets of space in the midfield to collect the ball and then run at defenses. This is where Fabian is most lethal. His frame, speed, foot skills, and strength make him almost impossible to stop when he’s driving at you.
However, opposing coaches have begun to game-plan for Herbers and started to clog to that area of the pitch. Undeterred, Herbers has gotten Junior Timo Pitter into the act. Herbers and Pitter seem to always know where the other is or is going to be, and on Wednesday their connection was instrumental in the Jays dismantling of Marquette.
Creighton’s Timo Pitter (WBR/Mike Spomer) $ CLICK TO BUY $
Pitter, who has been struggling as of late, notched a goal and an assist against a very stout Golden Eagle defense. It was Herbers both times who initiated the movement that led to the goals. If the Jays are to be successful they will need these two pistons firing on all cylinders.
Creighton travels to Chicago this Saturday to face a DePaul team that with a win could vault into the Big East conference tournament picture. The Jays cannot afford to look ahead to next weekend’s possible title bout against Providence, who themselves play at Butler Sunday.
Creighton Soccer Recruiting Notes
US U18 midfielder & Creighton commit Evan Waldrep
2015 Creighton Verbal Commit Evan Waldrep of Real Salt Lake Academy was selected to join up with the US Under-18 Men’s National Team camp in Los Angeles this last week. This is Waldrep’s first camp with the US. Waldrep is versatile midfielder who has been key to RSL Academy the last three seasons.
2015 Creighton Verbal Commit Peter Prescott has started all six of Portland Timber’s Under 18 matches this season. Prescott captain’s the Timbers squad and has netted one goal on the year.