This is the fifth and final installment of White & Blue Review’s preview for the 2009 Creighton men’s soccer team. Bob Warming’s club begins its quest for a national championship tonight at Morrison Stadium as the Bluejays host Loyola University Chicago.
The Goalkeepers
With three redshirt sophomores tending goal, along with a true freshman, it would be easy for casual observers to glance at the roster and wonder whether the final line of defense for the 2009 Creighton Bluejays is up to the test. Guess again.
Although just 5-8 and 155 pounds, sophomore Brian Holt did his best last season to fill the massive loss of Matt Allen following the 2007 slate. How’d he do? Consider Holt:
- Earned the MVC Freshman of the Year award, one of just three Jays ever to win the award.
- Headed the MVC All-Freshman team
- Earned second-team Freshman All-American honors from Soccer America and College Soccer News
- Recorded school-record 12 shutouts
- Shut opponents down for 722:12 consecutive minutes, also a school record
After redshirting his first year on campus, the Creighton Prep product tied a school record with a 0.51 goals against average (ties school record) and a .831 save percentage. 2009 marks the second of what could be four straight seasons between the pipes for this high-caliber performer.
But he will be pushed by Warming’s other keepers, two of which are his classmates. Fellow redshirt sophomores Nick Goldreich and Bryan Hoie showed substantial improvement during off-season training according to Warming. Unfortunately, due to illness, Goldreich has been absent from the team since his great play in Peru earlier this summer. Warming notes that Hoie has stepped up his efforts to bolster the position, saying that the Millard North graduate brings an amazing sense of confidence to the team.
The final keeper spot on the roster belongs to walk-on freshman Josh Baumann. The Omaha Westside grad has impressed Warming thus far.
Warming’s best teams have had outstanding keepers, and it outstanding play between the pipes is critical to Creighton’s success in 2009. Join White & Blue Review and a few thousand of our closest friends to see these keepers and the rest of the Bluejays start what promises to be an exciting season tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Morrison Stadium.