Creighton -  (Two Star Class Ranking) - Creighton head coach Bob Warming has indicated that forward Dion Acof is the only scholarship recruit that the Bluejays will add in 2009.  The Jays will also add several walk-ons but since there were only two seniors on the 2008 squad a large group of newcomers is probably not likely nor required.  Acof is a highly regarded 5 foot 9 inch, 150 pound recruit from Upland, California who played club soccer for Arsenal FC.  His upside is a quickness that Warming hopes will add an additional dimension that was previously missing from the Creighton offense.  Creighton will enter the 2009 season without forward/midfielder Andrei Gotsmanov (10g, 4a) and midfielder Tim Walters (3g, 3a) on the pitch.  Gotsmanov was a consensus All-American and the 2008 MVC Player of the Year.  During Gotsmanov’s two year tenure in Omaha he was an impact player who netted sixteen goals and contributed nine assists.  Walters was a solid contributor during his four year stint at Creighton and will remain with the team as a student assistant coach in 2009.   The Bluejays had an outstanding season in 2008 with a 16-2-2 overall record in route to advancing to the Elite Eight in NCAA Tourney play where they were defeated 1-0 in College Park by eventual National Champion Maryland.  Winning seasons and NCAA Tourney berths are the norm at Creighton.  In fact, the Bluejays made their seventeenth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tourney last year.  But don’t expect Creighton to rest on their laurels in 2009.  The Bluejays look to be a very focused and committed team fueled at least somewhat by the belief that they could have won it all last year but didn’t.  Don’t be surprised if the 2009 version of the Bluejays has just as much if not more success than the 2008 squad.  Warming will welcome back nine starters including three out of the four top scorers from the 2008 team and an experienced and athletic backline.   The talent starts up-top with fifth year senior Byron Dacy (2g, 4a) and senior Jeff Thayer (5g, 6a).  Dacy is a prime timer who has been hampered at times due to injury.  If he is healthy he will be among the top players in the country in 2009.  Thayer has been an impact player since arriving on campus.  Last year he was a First Team All-MVC selection.  Senior Thomas Gjoesund (1g, 0a) and sophomores Greg Jordan (1g, 2a) and Nick O’Neill (1g, 0a) also return to provide depth up-top.  Junior Sergio Castillo and sophomores Ethan Finlay (6g, 4a) and Greg Jordan (1g, 2a) are among returning midfielders who were starters last year.  Juniors Jeremy Wittig, Andrew Duran (0g, 1a) and Tucker Sindlinger (1g, 3a) and sophomore Kris Clark (1g, 3a) round out what should be a very deep and productive midfield.  The Creighton backline looks to be rock solid again in 2009.  Firth year senior Seth Sinovic (3g, 6a), who also adds an additional dimension to the attack, and senior Chris Schuler, who was the 2008 MVC Defensive Player of the Year and a College Soccer News and NSCAA Second Team All-America selection,  return along with senior Akin Akinrinade and junior Kyle Deremer (0g, 1a) to give the Bluejays a backline that should be among the best in the country.  Sophomore goalkeeper Brian Holt returns between the pipes after a stellar 2008 campaign in which he had a 0.51 goals against average while picking up twelve shutouts.  Holt was named a College Soccer News 2008 All-Freshman Second Team selection.  Sophomores Nick Goldreich from Pasadena, California and Bryan Hole from Omaha also return in goal.  Creighton should enter the 2009 season as well prepared as any team in the history of the program.  The Bluejays had a very competitive spring season followed by a trip to Peru in May where they competed favorably in an international tournament.  The folks in Omaha expect big things from the men’s soccer program at Creighton and do a great job of supporting the program.  If everything falls into place,  Morrison Stadium should be rocking in 2009 and the potential exists for it to be an extra special year to be a Creighton Bluejay.  

 

Dion Acoff - Upland, California - Forward - Damien High School - A Parade All-American selection - Participated in U.S. U-18 National Team camp - Plays club with Arsenal FC.