Scouting the Creighton Bluejays:
Following a bitter end to 2011, which saw the Bluejays eliminated in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament for the first time since 2008, Creighton will look to return to the form that sent the Bluejays to five NCAA Tournament appearances over the past 10 years in 2012.
“Based on the high expectations we set for ourselves, I felt we underachieved last season. It was a good year, but not a great year,” said head coach Bruce Erickson. “Now we have to revisit the areas that made us successful and get back to some of the basics, like being the fittest team and having a work ethic that makes you a team your opponents don’t like to play.”
Head Coach Bruce Erickson:
Creighton’s all-time winningest women’s soccer coach, Bruce Erickson begins his 14th campaign leading the program. Erickson has led the Bluejays to five NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 10 seasons . His squads have played in seven of the last 10 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship matches, winning the crown in 2002, ’04, ’05, ’07 and ’10. Erickson’s 141 victories at Creighton is the school record and are the second highest of any current coach in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).
Season Opens with Cyclones:
Creighton and Iowa State have met four previous times in the regular season, the Cyclones hold a 3-0-1 series edge. The last meeting came on Sept. 3, 2010 a 1-0 victory by Iowa State at Morrison Stadium. The Cyclones are undefeated in August the past three seasons going 7-0-4. Iowa State’s last loss in August was a 4-1 defeat to Pittsburgh on Aug. 31, 2008. The Cyclones open their 2012 season on Friday at Nebraska-Omaha.
Jays Tabbed to Finish Third in MVC:
The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) women’s soccer coaches tabbed Creighton to finish third as the 2012 preseason poll and preseason All-MVC team were announced by the league office Wednesday.
The Bluejays totaled 32 of the possible 49 points in the poll. Last season the Jays posted a 9-6-3 record, falling in to Northern Iowa in a shootout during a first round matchup at the MVC Tournament. Creighton finished in a tie for second at 4-1-1 in the MVC regular-season in 2011.
Brittney Neumann Named to MVC Preseason All-Conference Team:
Senior Brittney Neumann was the lone Jay selected to the 11-member MVC Preseason All-Conference Team. The 2010 MVC Player of the Year, Neumann led Creighton with eight goals and 17 points last season. She started all 18 games for the Jays, collecting three game-winning goals.
Exhibition Season Continued a Theme, Ties:
After ending the 2011 in a shootout, the Jays played three exhibition contests in August, Blue-White Scrimmage (Aug. 5), vs. North Dakota State (Aug. 11) and at Minnesota State-Mankato (Aug.14). Each exhibition contest ended in a tie as the Blue-White Scrimmage was 5-5 and the following two games ended, 1-1.
2012 Schedule:
Entering his 14th season, Erickson may have put together one of the toughest schedules the Jays have faced, featuring four teams from the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Creighton will open the season at home with Iowa State on Aug. 19, before hosting its first NCAA Tournament opponent, Utah State, on Aug. 24. Creighton’s toughest opponent comes just two days later as the Jays travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face an Oklahoma State team that was a No. 2 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
Creighton will also play South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska Omaha and Cal State Fullerton on the road in non-conference action. The Bluejays, meanwhile, will host Arizona on Sept. 2 and wrap up the non-conference season with three home contests versus UMKC, South Dakota State and Oral Roberts.
“This may be a make-or-break schedule, but I think it’s going to make us ready by the time we open up our conference season,” said Erickson.
MVC Tournament Returns to Morrison:
For the sixth time in the past eight seasons, Creighton will host the MVC Tournament in Morrison Stadium from Nov. 2-4. Erickson noted that hosting the MVC Tournament carries challenges and advantages.
“Obviously, playing on your home field has advantages, we know the field and our fans support our team very well. But it has also become a bit of a challenge. Opposing teams are more prepared coming in. The ‘wow factor’ has kind of gone away, they come in and play well because they are playing in a great stadium and an even better surface now,” said Erickson. “Teams are motivated to play here, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Following a bitter end to 2011, which saw the Bluejays eliminated in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament for the first time since 2008, Creighton will look to return to the form that sent the Bluejays to five NCAA Tournament appearances over the past 10 years in 2012.
“Based on the high expectations we set for ourselves, I felt we underachieved last season. It was a good year, but not a great year,” said head coach Bruce Erickson. “Now we have to revisit the areas that made us successful and get back to some of the basics, like being the fittest team and having a work ethic that makes you a team your opponents don’t like to play.”
Head Coach Bruce Erickson:
Creighton’s all-time winningest women’s soccer coach, Bruce Erickson begins his 14th campaign leading the program. Erickson has led the Bluejays to five NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 10 seasons . His squads have played in seven of the last 10 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship matches, winning the crown in 2002, ’04, ’05, ’07 and ’10. Erickson’s 141 victories at Creighton is the school record and are the second highest of any current coach in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).
Season Opens with Cyclones:
Creighton and Iowa State have met four previous times in the regular season, the Cyclones hold a 3-0-1 series edge. The last meeting came on Sept. 3, 2010 a 1-0 victory by Iowa State at Morrison Stadium. The Cyclones are undefeated in August the past three seasons going 7-0-4. Iowa State’s last loss in August was a 4-1 defeat to Pittsburgh on Aug. 31, 2008. The Cyclones open their 2012 season on Friday at Nebraska-Omaha.
Jays Tabbed to Finish Third in MVC:
The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) women’s soccer coaches tabbed Creighton to finish third as the 2012 preseason poll and preseason All-MVC team were announced by the league office Wednesday.
The Bluejays totaled 32 of the possible 49 points in the poll. Last season the Jays posted a 9-6-3 record, falling in to Northern Iowa in a shootout during a first round matchup at the MVC Tournament. Creighton finished in a tie for second at 4-1-1 in the MVC regular-season in 2011.
Brittney Neumann Named to MVC Preseason All-Conference Team:
Senior Brittney Neumann was the lone Jay selected to the 11-member MVC Preseason All-Conference Team. The 2010 MVC Player of the Year, Neumann led Creighton with eight goals and 17 points last season. She started all 18 games for the Jays, collecting three game-winning goals.
Exhibition Season Continued a Theme, Ties:
After ending the 2011 in a shootout, the Jays played three exhibition contests in August, Blue-White Scrimmage (Aug. 5), vs. North Dakota State (Aug. 11) and at Minnesota State-Mankato (Aug.14). Each exhibition contest ended in a tie as the Blue-White Scrimmage was 5-5 and the following two games ended, 1-1.
2012 Schedule:
Entering his 14th season, Erickson may have put together one of the toughest schedules the Jays have faced, featuring four teams from the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Creighton will open the season at home with Iowa State on Aug. 19, before hosting its first NCAA Tournament opponent, Utah State, on Aug. 24. Creighton’s toughest opponent comes just two days later as the Jays travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face an Oklahoma State team that was a No. 2 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
Creighton will also play South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska Omaha and Cal State Fullerton on the road in non-conference action. The Bluejays, meanwhile, will host Arizona on Sept. 2 and wrap up the non-conference season with three home contests versus UMKC, South Dakota State and Oral Roberts.
“This may be a make-or-break schedule, but I think it’s going to make us ready by the time we open up our conference season,” said Erickson.
MVC Tournament Returns to Morrison:
For the sixth time in the past eight seasons, Creighton will host the MVC Tournament in Morrison Stadium from Nov. 2-4. Erickson noted that hosting the MVC Tournament carries challenges and advantages.
“Obviously, playing on your home field has advantages, we know the field and our fans support our team very well. But it has also become a bit of a challenge. Opposing teams are more prepared coming in. The ‘wow factor’ has kind of gone away, they come in and play well because they are playing in a great stadium and an even better surface now,” said Erickson. “Teams are motivated to play here, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
