CHARLESTON, Ill. – In a wild game at Lakeside Field that featured eight goals and 38 fouls, second-ranked Creighton's three second-half scores were the difference in the Bluejays' 5-3 victory against Eastern Illinois men's soccer Saturday afternoon.

Alex Harrison scored twice for EIU and Jonathan Hinds also registered his first career goal. The Panthers (5-10-3, 0-5 MVC) led 3-2 when Harrison scored in the first minute of the second half, but Creighton (12-1-2, 4-0-1 MVC) responded with three unanswered goals.

The Bluejays won their third consecutive Missouri Valley Conference title with the victory.

Eastern will be the No. 6 seed at next week's Valley Tournament in Evansville. The Panthers' opening-round opponent will be determined by the result of tonight's Evansville-Drake match.

Creighton got two goals from Jeff Thayer and a goal and three assists from Seth Sinovic. Ethan Finlay also had a goal and an assist, tying the game just over a minute after Harrison had put EIU ahead.

 

Freshman Kris Clark's first career goal in the 53rd minute proved to be the game-winner.

The Bluejays entered the game leading the nation in goals against average after surrendering just four scores in their first 14 games. Evansville had been the only opponent to score multiple goals against CU prior to Saturday.

 

“I thought it was a fighting performance against the No. 2 team in the nation,” EIU head coach Adam Howarth said. “We scored more goals against them than any other team this year. But there were also some sloppy goals that we gave away, which continue to be a weakness. I salute the effort we played with, especially the seniors. Even though the result was a loss, this game should give us some confidence going into our game Wednesday.”

 

There were four goals scored and six yellow cards issued in the first 14 minutes of the second half.

 

Two of EIU's goals were scored on long floating shot from the west sidelined that climbed into the top shelf.

 

Hinds' score in the 22nd minute was ruled a goal by the linesman. The CU bench argued that the entire ball did not cross the goal line. CU goalkeeper Brian Holt and EIU forward Brad Peters both went crashing into the net after the linesman raised his flag to signal the goal.

 

Harrison scored on a similar, yet less controversial, play in 46th minute. The Englishman also headed in a great left-to-right cross by Peters at the right post in the seventh minute. Harrison has scored now eight times this year and 13 times in his two seasons at EIU.

 

Sinovic opened the scoring in the third minute when he one-timed a free kick from the sideline inside the right post.

 

Thayer tied the game at 2-2 in the 37th minute when he finished off a scramble near the left post at point blank range.

 

Finlay scored on a rebound in the 47th minute after EIU goalkeeper Mark Hansen made an initial save on a free kick blast by Sinovic from the edge of the 18-yard box.

 

Clark headed in a cross by Sinovic into the right side of the net.

 

Thayer capped the scoring in the 59th minute with an unassisted goal from just inside the edge of the 18-yard box. Hansen had ranged out to play a ball, and Thayer capitalized on an open net before the 'keeper could recover.

 

Hansen finished with five saves, his top stop coming 56th minute on another Sinovic free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box. The senior dove to his right and deflected the ball towards the sideline. At the time, the save kept it a one-goal game.

 

The eight goals represent the most scored in a single-game at Lakeside Field since EIU defeated Illinois-Chicago, 8-0, in 2002.

 

The Panthers last scored three times against Creighton in its last win in the series, a 4-2 result in 1985.

 

Creighton last surrendered three goals in a September 2007 loss to Tulsa. A 2005 loss at Drake marked the last time the Jays gave up three goals in an MVC contest.

Eastern last surrendered five goals in a game in a 2005 loss at Creighton.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID