The Creighton men’s soccer team is right where it wants to be during the final week of the regular season.
Following a 2-1 win at DePaul Saturday, the Jays sit one win away from the regular-season Big East championship.
The first-place Bluejays host second-place Providence Friday night. A victory would give the Jays the outright title and the number one seed for the Big East Conference Championships.
“We need to be sharp because we are now approaching postseason play,” coach Elmar Bolowich said. “And postseason is usually you either win and advance or you’re out, and that’s what we have to prepare for.”
Saturday’s contest was not one of the sharpest performances for the visiting Bluejays.
No. 6 (13-2-2, 6-1-1 Big East) Creighton allowed its first goal before halftime this season. The Blue Demons beat junior goalie Connor Sparrow during the fourth minute.
“We had a wake-up because we started out really, really, really slow,” junior Mike Paye said. “All season long I think that was the slowest we’ve ever started, but when that first goal happened we knew we had to wake up and change stuff.”
The Jays have outscored opponents 10-1 in the first half through 17 games.
With more than 85 minutes to play in regulation, the Jays set out to reverse the early deficit.
“It was kind of a shock because, no disrespect, but [DePaul] was not as good,” junior midfielder Timo Pitter said. “And it was hard to play on a tiny field. We knew we [had] to go back to what we can play and then we had to fight and win the game.”
Sophomore midfielder Fabian Herbers tied the match at one with a goal during the 17th minute. Herbers’ goal was his team-leading ninth on the season.
Paye converted the game-winning goal during the 51st minute.
“It was a good run by Mike,” Pitter said. “He came from a deep position and ran all the way through, so he was open … so we played him.”
Herbers and Pitter were credited with assists.
Pitter also had a game-winning goal on Oct. 29 against Marquette. He was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Offense has been a strong suit during Creighton’s season, and Saturday’s comeback was just another sign of success.
“We relied on our strength,” Pitter said. “We knew that we have really good guys on top, and we have really good guys coming from the back line, so we knew we had to stay together as a team, and we could beat them. It was just a matter of time.”
The Bluejays outshot DePaul 13-7 and held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Sparrow had three saves Saturday.
The Jays’ come-from-behind victory puts them in the driver’s seat for the regular-season championship.
Friday’s match is also Senior Night. The Jays will honor defenders David Abidor and Jose Ribas, goalkeeper Alex Bolowich and forward Sean Kim during the Senior Night festivities.
“It’s Friday night [and] Senior night,” Paye said. “We’re really playing for our seniors and our school.
“We’re excited to play.”
“I’m excited for the seniors,” Pitter said. “I’m excited for our school because it’s a huge showdown and we just want to finish the regular season in first place.”
If the Jays and Friars draw, the seeding will depend on other results around the conference. Creighton is guaranteed a spot in the top four seeds with a draw or loss.
The top two seeds in the Conference Championship clinch a bye to the semifinal round.