Story by: Creighton Athletic Communications
Series History:
Creighton tied with Gonzaga, 1-1-0
Creighton leads Santa Clara, 2-0-2
Creighton and Gonzaga have met twice previously, both coming in Omaha. The Zags won the first meeting 1-0 in 1999, while Creighton posted a 4-1 win during a contest in 2008.
The Bluejays and Broncos have met four times, including twice in Omaha. Each of the first two battles ended in a draw, while Creighton has won the last two. The last meeting on the pitch came in 2014 at Morrison Stadium. Creighton claimed that match, 1-0.
Scouting #23 Creighton (3-0-1)
Creighton is scoring at an elite level though the first four matches, entering the contest with Gonzaga ranked in the top five in assists per match (2nd - 5.25), points per match (3rd - 13.25), scoring offense (4th - 4.00), total assists (1st - 21) and goals (4th - 16).
Freshmen Carter Tavares and Jordan Igwenma are leading the charge with 10 and eight points respectively. Tavares, Igwenma and senior Matthew Reed each have a team-high three goals entering play on Friday.
An injury elevated Amari Thompson into net prior to the San Francisco. The fifth-year responded with back-to-back victories in his first two appearances at the D1 level. Matthew Hudson is on the mend and could return this weekend.
Scouting Gonzaga (2-1-1)
Gonzaga is 2-1-1 through its first four matches of the 2026 season, with all four contests played at Luger Field.
After opening with a scoreless draw against Fordham and a loss to Washington, the Bulldogs responded with back-to-back shutout wins over Utah Tech (3-0) and Northwest (DII), 7-0.
Gonzaga has outscored opponents 10-4 and recorded three shutouts through four matches.
A trio of Zags lead the team with two goals and five total points, Carson Hamond, Drew Pederson and Dashell Stein.
In goal Gonzaga has gone with Chema Preciado for every minute. He has allowed four goals, all coming against Washington.
Scouting Santa Clara (2-2-0)
Coming to Omaha at 2-2-0, the Broncos opened the season with victories over Cleveland State (2-1 on Aug. 20) and Fordham (2-0 on Aug. 23). Since then, however, Santa Clara has been shutout in consecutive losses to Cal (1-0 on Aug. 27) and 1-0 versus Utah Valley on Aug. 30.
Before facing Creighton on Monday, the Broncos will face Loyola at 2:00 pm on Friday.
Goalkeeper Jackson Ozburn has logged each minute in net this season, allowed three goals in 360 minutes (0.75 GAA). He has averaged four saves per contest with 16 on the season.
Offensively Santa Clara has two goals from Josmar Guandique and one each from Alejandro Arenas as well as Gabrielius Maonas.
The Broncos were picked to finish seventh out of nine teams in the WCC coaches poll. Portland was picked to finish first garnering six first place votes. The 2026 team is
comprised of 28 players including 20 returners and eight newcomers. Four returners were named All-West Coast Conference last year - seniors Jackson Ozburn and Will Wiersdorf garnered second team honors while sophomore Alejandro Arenas and senior Niv Berkovitz were honorable mentions.
Creighton Soccer Hosts 14th Annual Socctoberfest
Creighton men’s and women’s soccer continue the tradition of hosting a celebration of Soccer and Oktoberfest at Morrison Stadium. Oktoberfest is a folk festival rooted in Bavarian culture that centers on communal beer tents, traditional food, and historic parades. Originating in Munich, Germany the festival has grown into a global tradition.
The Socctoberfest event will be held on the North Pad of Morrison Stadium. Entry to the event is 35 dollars and includes match ticket, stein, stein fill, meal, and music from Happy Players. Packages can be picked up and purchased on north end of west concourse.
In the first 13 years of the event, the men’s team has gone 10-2-1, posting a 2-0 win last season over Denver. The women’s team, meanwhile, are 6-1-4 in the event. Last season the women delivered a 3-3 draw against #13 Arkansas.
Creighton women’s soccer will open the 2026 event at 5:00 p.m. against Northern Colorado, while the men’s team takes on Gonzaga at 7:45 p.m.
Men’s Soccer Follows Higher Calling for Jesuit Invitational this Weekend
Creighton Men’s Soccer will host Loyola Chicago, Santa Clara and Gonzaga during Labor Day weekend as part of the Jesuit Invitational in Morrison Stadium.
This Jesuit Invitational is a tournament with its roots in 1997 when Loyola hosted Fordham, Detroit-Mercy, and Saint Joseph. The event was inspired by Ray O’Connell, the Ramblers’ first men’s soccer coach (1980-2004), who believed that student-athletes at Jesuit schools are called not just to experience athletic success, yet more importantly to become men and women in service of others. Accordingly, Creighton, Gonzaga, Loyola and Santa Clara will compete on the field and also collaborate off the field.
“Creighton and cosponsor, Loyola Chicago, are excited to welcome Gonzaga and Santa Clara to our 2026 Jesuit Invitational,” said Bluejay head coach Johnny Torres. “This will be a special event where we come together in our shared values on the pitch and service to others in our community. This event truly embodies the Jesuit Values!”
The event kicks on Thursday, September 3 with a dinner for all four teams at the Mattress Factory. Jesuit priest Fr. Tim Breen, S.J., will give the invocation and lead a brief program. Fr. Breen is personally connected to three participating schools. He was a student-athlete at Loyola University Chicago and subsequently team chaplain, during his philosophy studies. While working at Creighton during his regency (a multi-year apostolic missioning to work in a Jesuit-run facility), he served the Creighton Men’s and Women’s Soccer staffs from 2016-2019. Fr. Breen currently serves in the athletic department at Gonzaga as the Program Director of Zags360, the Gonzaga student-athlete wellness program. The keynote speaker at the dinner will be Creighton Soccer legend Bob Warming, who guided the Bluejays to 190 victories and one College Cup during 13 seasons as the head coach over two stints.
The first two matches of the event see Loyola battle Santa Clara (2:00 pm) and Creighton face Gonzaga (7:45 pm) on Friday, September 4, while Loyola faces Gonzaga (2:00 pm) and Creighton takes on Santa Clara (5:30 pm) on Monday, September 7.
Arguably the most important portion of the Jesuit Invitational will occur on Saturday, September 5 as all four teams will work with over 120 children from the Omaha community via the PACE Organization at the Bob Campos Fields. Two of the core principles of PACE are to provide free athletic opportunities to at-risk and economically disadvantaged youth and bring together youth of different groups and cultures to facilitate cross cultural understanding and respect. Student-Athletes from Creighton, Gonzaga, Loyola and Santa Clara will be living out what it means to be a Jesuit-school student-athlete by leaving Omaha a better place than they found it.
Men’s Soccer Returns to National Rankings, Checking in at #23
For the first time since August 8, 2023, Creighton Men’s Soccer is nationally ranked as the Bluejays checked in tied with Princeton for No. 23 in the most recent poll by United Soccer Coaches on Tuesday, September 1. Creighton has started the 2026 season with three impressive wins, including a 5-0 clean sheet over Tulsa on Monday evening.