No. 7 Creighton men’s soccer opened Big East play with a 3-0 victory over Providence on September 18, continuing its unbeaten start to the 2026 season at and reaching its highest national ranking in four years.
The Bluejays climbed seven spots in the United Soccer Coaches poll Tuesday, moving from No. 14 to No. 7. The ranking marks Creighton’s best since Aug. 30, 2022, and its first time in the top seven since Oct. 11, 2016, when the Bluejays were ranked No. 6.
“Really excited for us to get off on the front foot in Big East play against a very good Providence side,” head coach Johnny Torres said. “That’s a tough team, [so we’re] delighted to be able to get off on the front foot in Big East play.”
After a sluggish opening stretch, a lightning delay roughly 25 minutes into the match gave Creighton a chance to reset. The Bluejays capitalized in the 31st minute when fifth-year transfer Allan Juarez gave the Bluejays a 1-0 lead with his third goal of the season. Sophomore Ayden Kokoszka found Juarez at the top of the box, where the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week fired into the opposite corner past a defender and the outstretched Friar goalkeeper.
“I thought the lightning delay actually helped us because I thought we were a bit sloppy before that,” Torres said. “I thought we were a bit lethargic. But we came out after that lightning delay with a little bit more energy collectively, and I thought that that helped us get on the front foot.”
Creighton doubled its lead in the 43rd minute when a failed Providence clearance fell to senior Diego Ferruzzi at the top of the box. Ferruzzi wasted no time, firing a shot past the Friar goalkeeper to score the first goal of his career and send the Bluejays into halftime with a 2-0 advantage.
Ferruzzi said the goal came from the Bluejays’ collective defensive effort and transition play.
“It came from our collective effort,” Ferruzzi said. “We all were getting back. We all were playing challenges, and then it just came from transition.”
After transferring to Creighton ahead of his sophomore season, Ferruzzi spent the next two years steadily developing and earning more opportunities on the pitch. This season, that work has translated into a larger role, making his first career goal all the more meaningful.
“It was so electric,” Ferruzzi said. “I think finally in this year, I’ve found when to take my moments, take my shots, and the moment came, and I’m really happy with it.”
Creighton added its third goal in the 62nd minute when junior Iowa Western transfer Angel Lopez scored his fifth goal of the season off assists from junior Bautista Rossi and Juarez.
The result gave Creighton three points in a challenging Big East slate and a 1-0 start to conference play. The Bluejays were also the lone team in the Big East’s Midwest Division to claim a victory on opening day, giving them an early edge in the conference standings.
Through nine matches, Creighton continues to lead the nation in total goals (31), total assists (38), total points (100), assists per game (4.22), and points per game (11.11).
Creighton heads to Colorado for just their second road match of their year, meeting Denver tonight at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
