Kansas City
Creighton
UMKC Knocks Off #3 Creighton 1-0
9/13/2008 10:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Omaha, Neb. -- For the second time on the 2008 campaign, the UMKC men's soccer team battled a consensus top-25 team, visiting Morrison Stadium to take on Creighton. In front of a raucous crowd, the Kangaroos made a first half goal stand up on Saturday night, handing the third-ranked Bluejays their first loss of the season.
The game started somewhat slow, as neither team was able to record a shot through the first quarter-hour. Creighton was whistled for three fouls over the stretch, with UMKC drawing one.
At the close of the 16th minute, the first chance of the game would become the first goal of the game, as Matt Kopsky chipped a ball over the Bluejay defense to find Brian Harris. The senior nodded the ball into the net for his third goal of the year.
Trailing for the first time on the 2008 season, Creighton stepped up the pressure, but wasn't able to find the mark, spraying four of their six shots in the first half off the mark. The closest chance for the Bluejays came in the 38th minute, but Byron Dacy's header was off the mark.
Ken Cooper would face 16 shots and a very vocal Creighton crowd behind his goal in the second half, but the sophomore netminder was only tested by three efforts from the Bluejays. He was equal to the task on all three shots on goal, including a crucial stop with three ticks left on the clock.
Cooper recorded his third career shutout - and his first of the season - with five saves in the match to give UMKC its second win in 11 tries against the Bluejays. The previous upset also saw the Blue-and-Gold knock off a #3-ranked Creighton squad, coming in Omaha on Sept. 27, 1996.
UMKC moves to 2-1-2 on the season, and is set to wrap up a seven-game road swing next weekend. The Kangaroos head to the West Coast for tournament action, playing Gonzaga on Friday, Sept. 19. The game is set for a 4 p.m. PDT (6 p.m. CT) kickoff from Spokane, Wash.
