Soccer: Jays aiming to continue surge

Creighton’s soccer team has a couple of objectives Wednesday when it plays at Missouri State.

First, a victory would allow the Bluejays to avenge one of their two losses. Missouri State posted a 1-0 victory on Sept. 19 in Omaha.

“Any time you lose to a team,’’ Creighton goalkeeper Brian Holt said, “you want to get out there again and answer back.’’

A win in Wednesday’s 4 p.m. match also would allow the Bluejays to continue building momentum and perhaps indicate that they have shaken a slow start that saw them open 2-2-1.

The Bluejays earned Missouri Valley Conference wins over Bradley and Evansville last week to improve to 2-1 in the league and 4-2-1 overall.

“Things are starting to go our way,’’ Holt said. “But we have to keep working hard to keep it going and to keep the wins coming.’’

The one thing Creighton coach Bob Warming does not want to see today is for his team to squander the good vibes gained from the win over Evansville. Warming’s caution is understandable because he saw it happen earlier this season.

Creighton showed plenty of moxie in posting a 1-0 win at Washington on Sept. 25. The Huskies were in dire need of a win, but the Bluejays were able to match Washington’s aggressiveness and pull out the opening night win at the Husky Classic.

Two days later, Portland beat Creighton 2-1 to win the tournament.

“The disappointing thing was that we had things come together that first night in Washington,’’ Warming said. “Two days later, against Portland, we just didn’t have it. I’m not sure what it was that day.”

The Evansville win, Warming said, provided the Bluejays with a similar feeling to what they had after winning at Washington.

“The good thing was it came at home,’’ Warming said. “We haven’t had this kind of feeling at home in a while, coming back as we did. The players were passionate. The fans were passionate. Now, it’s up to us to build on that.’’

It won’t be easy, as Creighton has found frustration in its recent visits to Missouri State. Although the Bluejays are 18-7-3 overall against the Bears, Creighton has not won in Springfield since 2002. CU is 0-2-1 in its past three visits and has scored just one goal in the three games.

CU NOTES: Creighton will be without senior forward Thomas Gjoesund Wednesday as he must sit out the match for receiving the red card against Evansville. ... Creighton ranks 17th nationally in goals-against average (0.55) and is 18th in shutout percentage (.570). The Bluejays have allowed four goals in seven games. ... Missouri State is 1-1 in the Valley and 5-3-1 overall. The Bears split a pair of home matches last week, winning 1-0 over Denver in nonconference play and losing 3-0 to Eastern Illinois in a Valley game.

Contact the writer:

679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com