The No. 12 Creighton men’s soccer team continued its rough start to the season with a 2-0 loss at the University of Tulsa on Tuesday. The defeat dropped Creighton to 5-3-1 overall.
This marks the first time since November 2010 that the Bluejays have lost two games in a row. Both of those losses came against conference foe Bradley University.
Freshman forward Cristian Mata scored both goals for the Golden Hurricane. Mata has racked up eight goals so far this season for
6-3-0 Tulsa.
After a goalless first half, the action picked up in the second. Tulsa struck first in the 56th minute as Mata slotted one home from 10
yards out.
Creighton’s best chance came in the 64th minute, when they managed to get three shots off in one possession. Sophomore midfielder Jose Ribas and freshman midfielder Timo Pitter both had their shot saved before freshman midfielder Myles Englis sent his over the net.
In the 85th minute, Mata put away his second goal of the game past sophomore keeper Alex Bolowich.
The Jays were unable to score despite shooting 11 times and having nine corner kicks. Bolowich recorded three saves.
“We need to start to compete,” head coach Elmar Bolowich said. “We need to get more bite in the front line.”
The loss came on the heels of Creighton’s 3-1 homecoming defeat Saturday night against Saint Louis University.
The Bluejays looked sloppy in the first half, unable to keep possession in midfield. Neither team looked dominant until the period began winding down.
“The first half was embarrassing,” Pitter said. “That was not Creighton soccer. It’s not what we’re about.”
The Billikens struck first in the 39th minute, scoring as a wall of players screened Bolowich. The half ended with Saint Louis leading 1-0.
The second half started just as badly for Creighton. In the 49th minute, Bolowich saved an initial shot, but he was unable to control the rebound. Sophomore midfielder Raymond Lee controlled the deflection and scored his second goal of the game to put SLU up 2-0.
Creighton responded with a Pitter goal in the 62nd minute. Senior midfielder Jose Gomez set up Pitter with a cross-field pass just outside the 18-yard box. Pitter drove the ball into the top-right corner from there.
Saint Louis put the game out of reach by scoring in the 83rd minute. Bolowich finished the match with four saves.
Gomez vented his frustration after the match.
“I hate losing,” Gomez said. “I believe it should be every players’ mentality.”
Creighton is looking to snap this losing streak Saturday at 7 p.m. The Bluejays are starting up conference play against Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.