OCTOBER 26, 2011
OMAHA, Neb. - A pair of second-half goals from Ethan Finley lifted No. 3
Creighton (14-2, 3-1 MVC) to a 2-0 victory over Drake (10-6-1, 3-2 MVC) in
Missouri Valley Conference men's soccer action on Wednesday (Oct. 26).
"There is clearly a reason they are ranked third in the
country," Bulldog head coach Sean Holmes commented.
"Creighton plays with a great deal of poise and composure and they play
relative mistake-free soccer.
However, I thought for 60 minutes we were their equal, and I wasn't sure
they would be able to unlock us at the back."
"I thought we had moments of good possession and ball
movement and created some good half-chances, but we hardly looked like the team
that has scored 33 goals this year."
The initial stanza proved to be one statistically dominated
by the Bluejays, who owned a 9-1 shot advantage, but the Bulldogs on the
strength of four first-half saves from senior Jordan Kadlec (Hiawatha, Iowa/Kennedy) held
Creighton off the scoreboard.
Drake's lone shot in the first 45 minutes came from
sophomore Bryan Jantsch (Mission Hills, Kan./Rockhurst) in the 18th minute (17:28).
Finley broke the stalemate at the 68:13 mark connecting on
his 10th goal of the season off an assist from Jose Ribas.
Finley cracked the scoring column again in the 78th minute
(77:27) delivering his 11th tally of the year off a header pass from Kris
Clark.
The Bulldogs were only able to garner one second-half shot
as Creighton and goalkeeper Brian Holt registered their 11th shutout of the
season.
Holmes was pleased with the efforts of redshirt junior David Parato (St. Louis,
Mo./Chaminade Prep) stepping in for the injured sophomore Garrett Crall (Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk) on the back
line.
"Particularly rewarding was David (Parato's) play, stepping
in for an injured Garrett (Crall) at the back, he was everything I thought he
could be. He should be proud of
his performance. We often talk to
our players who don't get to start and ask that they train diligently everyday
so that when their opportunity presents itself they are ready and David did
that today, but ultimately a few sloppy errors at the back undid our efforts."
The Bluejays posted a 20-2 margin in shots, led by a
game-high five shots from Finley and Dion Acoff. Drake was paced by shots from Jantsch and senior Hunter Kennedy (Cedar
Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy).
"I thought lots of guys put in great effort, but in these
kind of circumstances you need even more than that," said Holmes. "Once again fifth-year seniors Jordan
(Kadlec) and Matt (Kuhn) put in solid performances and I thought Logan (North)
at left back was very tidy."
Kadlec pulled in six saves, while Holt didn't record a save.
Holmes was clearly confident in his team and looking forward
to a possible meeting with the Bluejays in the upcoming State Farm MVC
Championship (Nov. 9-13).
"I look forward to Nov. 13 when we have the chance to meet
Creighton again on national television, I think we'll be a smarter team 18 days
from now."
Holmes came away impressed with the support for Creighton
soccer in Omaha and aspires to one day have that atmosphere for Drake soccer at
the Cownie Soccer Complex.
"It is great that college soccer is supported like it is in
Omaha and this is what we aspire to do as well in Des Moines. Their team was clearly buoyed by the
great enthusiasm generated by their youth soccer community and their student
body."
Drake closes out its season hosting Missouri State on Nov. 5
at the Cownie Soccer Complex. The
game will serve as the Bulldogs seventh-annual alumni reunion.
