Sven Koenig scored a couple goals for the Jays on Saturday night (Spomer / WBR) $CLICK TO BUY$
In a match like this, placing the pacey Jays against the #2 team in the preseason BIG EAST coach’s poll, to start conference play was something of a dream. The schizophrenic Bulldogs of Butler, who’d tied against top-5 ranked Akron and walloped #15 Western Michigan, had a tough task ahead against the top-25 Jays.
The beginning of this match started with a methodical effort from the Jays, using a softly paced offensive effort, steadily trying the right side of the Butler defense, only to end up short on shots by Joel Rystrand and Sven Koenig, both of which went wide of the net.
After two misses, the Jays tried the left side of Butler’s defense, taking their time moving the ball up the field.
With their all-blue kits, on Homecoming night, the Jays managed to move the ball at will in the first half, but had trouble putting the ball in the back of the net.
Koenig had an opportunity in the 22nd minute to score, with a one-on-one situation against the Butler goalie, but couldn’t capitalize as Butler’s goalie swatted the attempt away. After a corner that resulted in nothing, the Bulldogs lived another day with a tie ballgame.
Luke Haakenson had multiple opportunities as well in the waning moments of the first half, as he got one denied by the keeper and the player on a one-on-one chance, then got denied by another majestic save by Butler keeper Gjergji.
All in all, the Bluejay defense dominated Butler in the first half, leading 10-2 in shots taken. What ended as a stalemate should’ve been tilted in the Jays’ favor, but alas, a scoreless match transpired in the first.
That all changed quickly into the second half. On a clear by the Jays, Ziyad Fares managed to collect the ball in the box on a lofty pass from Haakenson, then decked out the one defender in front of him, and squirts in a goal just past the keeper, giving the Jays a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute of play.
Ziyad then fed his teammate Sven Koenig on a slick pass in front of the net that Koenig dropped into the net with ease in the 50th minute. The proverbial floodgates had opened and the Butler defense acted as a failed levee, letting the Jays deeper and deeper into the box with an aggressive attack.
Joel Rydstrand had a few shots on goal for the Jays, who rolled in the 2nd half against Butler (Spomer / WBR) $CLICK TO BUY$
Kuba Polot then had his sock stepped on in the 58th minute, stopping play for quite sometime as Polot removed his shoe, adjusted his sock, then tied his shoe again. Then, Jared Timmer fell over and writhed in pain, stopping play yet again. Creighton responded with a shot on goal by Haakenson that he couldn’t put past the keeper, and the 2-0 lead would have to suffice — for now.
Sven Koenig then took a ball on a clear from midfield and lofted a gorgeous shot right over the keeper’s head, giving them a 3-0 lead in the 73rd minute.
In the final 20 minutes of play, Butler managed to acquire two bookings. One, a yellow card drawn by Jake Haywood, and the other a red card drawn by Eric Hollenkamp. With a man advantage and a 3-0 lead, the Bluejays proceeded to cruise to victory. Butler had a few more tries, but the mounting pressure and clear negative body language spelled a breath of defeat for the ‘Dawgs and a solid dub for the Bluejays, who improved to 4-1-1 on the season and 1-0-0 in conference play.
The Jays will take on Villanova at Villanova next Saturday.
*- This match was Creighton’s 4th straight home victory
*- Creighton has now logged 540 consecutive shutout minutes
*- Creighton outshot the Bulldogs 16-5, including a 11-2 shots on net margin.