Coming into the 2025 campaign, it was unclear what to expect from the Creighton men’s soccer team thanks to significant player turnover following the 2024 season. As is often the Bluejays’ standard, several key contributors departed for the professional ranks: midfielder Lucio Berron, goalkeeper Blake Gillingham, defender Mark O’Neill and forwards Jackson Castro and Roman Torres all took their talents to professional heights. So, with many pieces missing and a plethora of new Bluejays thrown into the fray, questions lingered about how the team would gel and perform this season.

And while the season may have started rocky, with an 0-2-1 record, over the last month, the Bluejays have been building, laying the foundation of a team with chemistry and grit who can stack up small victories. Each brick — five clean sheets in six matches, a five-game win streak and 11 goals collectively scored in six matches — has slowly strengthened the roster and the Bluejays’ collective confidence. 

But the question, as Creighton got ready to depart for its first road match in over a month, became whether the strength witnessed under the lights of Morrison Stadium could be sustained under the pressure of a hostile crowd, on an unfamiliar pitch and after travel fatigue. 

Creighton’s showing at DePaul might be exactly what was needed to quiet the critics. In a 2-0 display on Sept. 27, the Bluejays showcased all the hallmarks of their current form: disciplined defense, smart possession and timely finishing. A first-half penalty kick goal from junior midfielder Miguel Arilla set the tone, and a final second-half strike with just 12 seconds left in the match from junior defender Matthew Reed — assisted by Arilla — ensured the road victory.

But more than the road win, the Bluejays demonstrated with clean-sheet-certainty that their dominant display at home wasn’t confined to home turf.

Miguel Arilla, Creighton’s leading scorer with four goals this season, translated his offensive effectiveness to the road, recording a goal and an assist for three points against the Blue Demons. His contributions were not only decisive in the outcome but also underscored his ability to influence play in different environments, suggesting the team’s attacking strategy is adaptable and not reliant on home-field advantage. 

Matthew Hudson, Creighton’s defensive pillar between the posts, has shown remarkable growth this season. After allowing seven goals in the first three matches, the redshirt freshman goalkeeper has conceded just two in six games. Against DePaul, the redshirt freshman executed four crucial saves, one in the 76th minute that denied a close-range equalizer. Hudson’s poise under pressure has solidified the defense and given the offense freedom to attack aggressively, proving that Creighton can maintain control and composure on the road as well as at home.

Finally, the Bluejays’ second goal, with 12 seconds remaining in the match, showcased just how fully this squad has bought into the ‘Creighton style’ of play. Built on high press, fast attacking and staying on the front foot for 90 minutes, the breakaway set up by Arilla and finished by Reed epitomized that approach. With seconds left, the Bluejays could have easily settled into defense, but their belief in an aggressive, fast-paced system created a final opportunity. Seeing the fruits of these heads-up plays can only increase the Bluejays’ belief that the system that Head Coach Johnny Torres has been so successfully implemented can be successful anywhere.

Heading into a road matchup at UConn on Oct. 3, Creighton’s performance at DePaul confirmed that the Bluejay style of play can thrive beyond Morrison Stadium. The combination of home confidence and composure on the road makes this team a formidable opponent for any conference program and a squad with real potential for a deep run this season. After early questions about chemistry and youth, Creighton has shown it can not only build momentum at home but also translate that dominance onto the road—a dangerous combination for any challenger.