Creighton University
18-3-0
Drake
13-5-3
Men's Soccer Clinches Fourth NCAA Third Round Appearance In Last Five Years, Downs Drake, 5-1
11/22/2015 3:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Bluejays to meet winner of Coastal Carolina/North Carolina in NCAA Third Round
OMAHA, Neb. — Matching a season-high scoring output of five goals, twelfth-seeded Creighton Men's Soccer earned a commanding, 5-1 win over former-Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake in NCAA second round action on Sunday.
With the victory, Creighton clinched an appearance in the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship Third Round for the fourth time in the last five years, coinciding with Head Coach Elmar Bolowich's tenure as headman of the program.
Unanimous BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Fabian Herbers became just the second player in Creighton program history to dish out three assists in a postseason match, tying Luiz Del Monte's NCAA postseason single-season record which was set in the Bluejays' 6-2, national quarterfinal win over Boston College in 2002. Herbers (15G, 15A) is the nation's leading point scorer (45). The Ahaus, Germany, native is one assist shy of matching Richard Mulrooney's program single-season assist record of 16 ('96, '98).
Sophomore forward Ricky Lopez-Espin tallied two goals in the win, including his second game-winning goal of the year (9').
Lopez-Espin gave the Bluejays an early, 1-0 lead with a ninth-minute score. Teammate Ricardo Perez followed suit in the 17th minute to allow Creighton to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.
Creighton's offensive onslaught continued in the second half as Lopez-Espin, Evan Waldrep, and Timo Pitter each added goals. Creighton outshot the Bulldogs (13-5-3), who were making the program's third NCAA tournament appearance, by a 25-5 margin.
Sophomore forward Steven Enna spoiled Creighton's bid for a clean sheet by scoring in the 81st minute, his fourth goal of the season.
Drake goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod made ten saves in the match, nine of which came in the second half.
Creighton will play the winner of tonight's Coastal Carolina at fifth-seeded North Carolina match. The Bluejays' third round match will take place on either Saturday, Nov. 28, or Sunday, Nov. 29. Creighton will be seeking the program's 11th national quarterfinal appearance.
MULTIMEDIA
Video highlights: youtu.be/igCPmntEIeg
Interview: youtu.be/L_nA4TXqqD4
Team Stats
LOPEZ-ESPIN, Ricky (4)
Assisted By: HERBERS, Fabian
CU14 passes from left endline to CU7 in
8:24
PEREZ, Ricardo (5)
Assisted By: PITTER, Timo , FRANKE, Noah
CU13 passes from right endline, CU18 one
16:36
LOPEZ-ESPIN, Ricky (5)
Assisted By: CASTELLANOS,Fernando
GOAL by CU LOPEZ-ESPIN, Ricky, Assist by CASTELLANOS,Fernando, goal number 5 for season.
64:58
WALDREP, Evan (2)
Assisted By: HERBERS, Fabian
GOAL by CU WALDREP, Evan, Assist by HERBERS, Fabian, goal number 2 for season.
68:22
Enna,Steven (4)
Assisted By: LeMay,Ben
GOAL by DUM Enna,Steven, Assist by LeMay,Ben, goal number 4 for season.
80:26
PITTER, Timo (9)
Assisted By: HERBERS, Fabian
GOAL by CU PITTER, Timo, Assist by HERBERS, Fabian, goal number 9 for season.
88:46
