The Creighton men’s soccer team dominated Gonzaga 4-1 on Friday night in its home opener at Morrison Stadium. The Bluejays were in control almost the entire game, except for a slow start to the second half that included Gonzaga’s only goal.

The Creighton attack was led by junior forward Jeff Thayer, who scored twice. Sophomore midfielder Tucker Sindlinger and senior forward Andrei Gotsmanov added a goal apiece, and senior forward Byron Dacy played 53 minutes in his first game back after tearing his ACL last season.

The Jays are ranked sixth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll and were awarded a top-10 ranking in all four major preseason polls, as well as being named the favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference by the league’s coaches.

The preseason rankings are based partially on the performance of last season’s team, which had only one regular-season loss, and went to the NCAA Tournament for the 16th consecutive time.

The rankings bode well for the Jays, who have seven returning starters, including junior defender Chris Schuler, who was named a preseason second-team All-American by Soccer America. Gotsmanov was named one of 34 “Players to Watch” by Joe Mauceri of College Soccer News, as well as a candidate for the National Player of the Year. Dacy was also named a preseason second-team All-American and a candidate for the National Player of the Year.

“It’s definitely a positive,” Dacy said of the high rankings. “It’s a very good indicator of where we’re at.”

Despite all the returning players, head coach Bob Warming reminded his team that the rankings are based on last year’s team, and that they are going to have to work hard

for them.

“Each year is unique, each team is unique. It’s one of the most exciting things to me about coaching,” Warming said. “Each year we have to become the best team we can be. This year’s team can be special.”

Warming and the Jays know that they also need some outside assistance.

“We need our student body to be behind us,” Warming said. “The home-field advantage we can have at Creighton is huge, if the students do what they can to help us win— this team will be a lot of fun to watch.”