Saturday marks the most important match in the short history of Morrison Stadium. The Creighton men’s Soccer team can earn a spot in the national semifinal — the College Cup — with a win over South Florida. The Bulls and Bluejays meet in what promises to be a cold and possibly snowy environment with a trip to Birmingham on the table.
We caught up with Creighton head coach Elmar Bolowich ahead of the match to discuss his first year at CU, the team’s health heading into this quarterfinal contest, and what fans should expect from tomorrow’s match.
White & Blue Review: How did you feel your team performed last Sunday against UCSB?
Elmar Bolowich: It was good to get the win. I thought we came out aggressive and really pushed right out of the gate. I was a bit disappointed that we gave one up toward the end and sort of fell into the emotions of the game. But, I was glad we were able to hold on for the win and get a chance to play again.
WBR: It seemed that the game got a bit chippy toward the end, but that it was a physical game throughout. Is this a strategy a team will try and bring to the pitch, to frustrate you, or is it frustration by a team about to see their season end?
EB: Well, I think it can be a number of things; frustration or desperation toward the end of the game. The seniors on that team wanted to do everything they could to continue playing, as well as the coaches. This is nothing new from UCSB, as they are a physical team. I think the coaches were a bit frustrated with some of the calls, but they want to win. The coaches and team were very cordial to us before and after the game. I thought they were very respectful.
WBR: You will be facing South Florida on Saturday afternoon; what can the fans expect from this team?
EB: They are a very athletic team; it should actually be a really good game and a fun game to watch. It is the kind of game that you want to play because these guys will play with you. Their defense is very well organized and will make our attack work. They have a very talented striker who will put pressure on our defense as well. We will need to stay sharp and focused on Saturday.
WBR: How is the team holding up right now? What is their attitude?
EB: They are really good. They are playing for a chance to advance to the College Cup. They are in the final 8 of the tournament. If you can’t get excited and motivated for that, then you might as well not play. They are excited for the opportunities they have.
WBR: Bruno Castro came off the pitch a bit lame last Sunday after the penalty kick that put you guys ahead early. What is his playing status for Saturday?
EB: Bruno has a bit of a hamstring issue. With those injuries it is always hard to tell how a player is going to heal. We have kept him out of practice this week, and as of right now he is 50-50. We will see.
WBR: I know we have asked this before, but since you keep winning I will ask you again. How has the first season gone? Have you met your expectations? Has Creighton?
EB: I think that right now, no matter the outcome on Saturday, this has been a very successful season. We were able to win both the regular season championship in the Valley as well as take the tournament. We had a great record and ended up getting a #2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. You can hope, but you can’t predict. I came into this season hoping for the best and we have far exceeded my expectations.