The Morrison Stadium faithful got their first look at Johnny Torres’ club on Saturday as the Creighton men’s soccer team overwhelmed Northern Illinois for 90 minutes non-stop en route to a convincing 4-0 decision. Fresh off a College Cup appearance last December and sporting a top 10 preseason ranking, the Bluejays pick up where they left off with relentless pressure that resulted in a 20-8 shot disparity and produced four goals by three different players.
“Obviously we’re excited to be back,” Creighton’s fifth-year head coach said. “It’s been a short preseason, but the guys were pretty diligent and committed to getting back earlier than the allowed start time. I think we got 23 guys on the field today and it’s always helpful when you’re able to produce a result like that when you’re playing that many bodies. I’m excited for the guys and for the season to be underway.”
Throughout the week, Torres and his staff have been hammering home the principles that have become stylistic staples of Creighton’s men’s soccer program, and the Bluejay legend was bullish on his team’s preseason debut in that although it wasn’t as efficient as it could have been, especially in front of goal, it was a positive step four days of training and implementation.
“I think we have an understanding to it,” Torres said of how well the players are grasping the lessons they’ve been taught so far in training. “We can obviously become more efficient with it, but I think the guys that have been here for a while are doing a good job of bringing the new guys along. But again, it was a quick turnaround, so it was a good challenge today for the guys to come out and execute to that level and get four [goals] past NIU.”
The Bluejays were obviously missing the guys they lost to the professional ranks in MAC Hermann Trophy winner Duncan McGuire, top ten MLS Draft pick Owen O’Malley, as well as veteran goalkeeper Paul Kruse, and midfielders Charles Auguste and Callum Watson. But they also played without captain center back Mark O’Neill and dynamic playmaker Giorgio Probo. Neither have practiced yet this preseason after sustaining muscle-related injuries late in summer ball. Torres said they are being conservative with the recovery process to ensure that when they return it’s with their full abilities intact. In the meantime, he seemed pleased with how guys stepped up to fill the void in their absence.
“I think these guys understand that without some of the pieces that we have right now we don’t have the firepower that we had last season,” Torres said. “They understand that at certain points [O’Neill and Probo] were the catalysts for what happened last year. They’re confident that this could also be a good year for us in regard to productivity up top, and as we get more and more refined and get to understanding each other’s movements I think things will continue to click for us.”
The Bluejays got goals from junior midfielder Malte Kaiser in the 28th minute, grad student Alfie Pope on a penalty kick in the 51st, and a pair of goals in the 71st and 89th by midfielder Ali Ramadan. Pope popped at times last year as McGuire’s backup No. 9, but Kaiser played only 77 minutes in four matches last season and Ramadan is a true freshman out of Algonquin, Illinois. At least through one week of training and live match reps, it appears the Creighton coaching staff is optimistic about the depth despite missing a couple key veterans.
“We have some good talent that’s come in,” Torres said. “That makes my job harder. I’d rather have it be that where I am having to make hard decisions with who is going to play and who is going to roster than not have it that way and have to ride 10 or 11 guys. Like I said, 23 guys got in tonight and I thought everybody did very well and did what they were supposed to do. It makes my job harder, but I love it.”
Creighton’s second of three exhibition matches is set for Wednesday night at Morrison Stadium. The Bluejays welcome former Missouri Valley Conference foe Drake to Omaha for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff.
