Creighton University Athletics
Thursday, August 20
Omaha, Neb.
6:00 PM
Creighton University
vs
Florida International
Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Bluejay Men's Soccer Opens 2026 Season at Home Against FIU and Drake
8/19/2026 6:25:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Omaha, Neb. -- Creighton Men's Soccer opens the 2026 season with home matches against Florida International (Aug. 20) and Drake (Aug. 23) this weekend.
Follow the Match
Both of the Bluejays' matches this weekend can be found online on ESPN+, while live stats will be featured through StatBroadcast.
Jon Schriner and Gary Sharp will have the call on Thursday and Sunday.
Updates will be provided during the match on Twitter (@CreightonMSOC).
Series History: Creighton Leads Florida International 2-1-1
The Bluejays and Panthers have met four times, including a 1-1 draw at FIU last season. It was the second trip to FIU for the Bluejays, also heading out in 1991. The other two meetings between the two teams were neutral site affairs in 1992 and 1998.
Date Site Score
9/28/91 at FIU L, 1-4
10/3/92 in St Louis, Missouri W, 3-0
9/12/98 in Dallas, Texas W, 6-1
8/24/25 at FIU T, 1-1
Creighton leads Drake, 28-3-8
Former Missouri Valley Conference foes, Creighton and Drake have met 39 times on the pitch. The Bluejays hold a commanding 28 victories and have fell to the Bulldogs just three times. Creighton has taken the last six meetings and has not lost in nine contests.
Last Five Meetings
Date Opponent Score
Oct. 7, 2014 at Drake W, 1-0
Oct. 6, 2015 Drake W, 2-1
Nov. 22, 2015 # Drake W, 5-1
Oct. 10, 2017 Drake W, 6-1
Aug. 24, 2024 Drake W, 5-3
# = NCAA Tournament
Season Opening Success
Creighton is 22-6-8 during their first match of the season since Creighton restarted its men's soccer program in 1990. The Bluejays are 15-3-5 during home-openers at Morrison Stadium.
Scouting Creighton (0-0-0)
The Bluejays enter the 2026 season with a nice blend of new talent and veteran leadership. Creighton's most experienced unit is the back line with Brian Edelman and Andrija Savic as well as goalkeeper Matthew Hudson returning to guide the defense.
Defender Matthew Reed is also back in 2026, but played more in the midfield during the Bluejays' exhibition contests. Creighton went 8-4-4 last season, including a 4-2-2 mark in BIG EAST games.
Scouting Florida International (0-0-0)
The Panthers went 7-9-3 during the 2025 season, including a 1-7-0 record on the road. The Panthers enter their fifth season in the American Conference following a strong 2025 campaign that saw FIU advance to the American Conference Championship match for the second consecutive season and third time in the last four years before falling to eventual champion Florida Atlantic.
Head coach Kyle Russell enters his seventh season at the helm, leading a squad that combines key returners with an influx of impactful newcomers.
Scouting Drake (0-0-0)
Drake closed the 2025 season with an 8-2-7 overall mark, including a 3-2-3 record in road matches. Last year, Drake earned its first regular season conference title in program history, settling for the No. 2 seed in the MVC Tournament via tiebreakers.
Eskil Gjerde highlighted Drake's postseason award winners with his second MVC Midfielder of the Year honor in as many seasons. Gjerde, along with Cole Schrage, were named to the Missouri Valley Conference First Team.
The Bulldogs landed in second in the 2026 MVC Preseason Coaches' Poll, only behind league favorite Western Michigan. Drake, along with Evansville, earned one first-place vote. Butkovic, DeLong, Kipnusu, and Schrage were named to the 2026 Preseason All-MVC team.
Florida International and Drake Open Season Versus Bluejays and Mavericks
Florida International and Drake will battle Creighton and Omaha over the opening weekend. FIU opens the season against the Bluejays, while Drake faces Omaha. The road teams flip locations on Sunday.
Creighton Picked to Finish Second in the Midwest
Creighton Men's Soccer was picked to finish second in the Midwest Division of the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll, announced on Tuesday, August 11.
Creighton defender Matthew Reed was a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad, one of 12 players recognized by the 12 BIG EAST coaches.
The Bluejays are coming off an 8-4-4 record in 2025, closing BIG EAST play at 4-2-2. Creighton returns 16 players from last season, including Reed, Andrija Savic and Brian Edelman along the back line as well as goalkeeper Matthew Hudson. Reed and Savic both earned All-BIG EAST honors last season (Second Team for Reed and Third Team for Savic), while Hudson played every second in goal last season.
2026 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
Midwest Division (first-place votes)
1. Akron (11) 66
2. Creighton (1) 56
3. Xavier 43
4. Marquette 34
5. DePaul 27
6. Butler 20
East Division(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown (11) 66
2. Connecticut 46
3. Providence (1) 45
3. St. John's 37
5. Seton Hall 36
6. Villanova 16
2026 Season Opener
Florida International at Creighton
Thursday, August 20 @ 6:00 pm
ESPN+: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/7ab731fd-cd45-4d7d-a4e5-9e48cda02755
Stats: creighton.statbroadcast.com
Drake at Creighton
Sunday, August 23 @ 4:00 pm
ESPN+: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/6733f2a6-5643-4dd9-83df-eda9b86963b1
Stats: creighton.statbroadcast.com
Florida International at Creighton
Thursday, August 20 @ 6:00 pm
ESPN+: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/7ab731fd-cd45-4d7d-a4e5-9e48cda02755
Stats: creighton.statbroadcast.com
Drake at Creighton
Sunday, August 23 @ 4:00 pm
ESPN+: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/6733f2a6-5643-4dd9-83df-eda9b86963b1
Stats: creighton.statbroadcast.com
Follow the Match
Both of the Bluejays' matches this weekend can be found online on ESPN+, while live stats will be featured through StatBroadcast.
Jon Schriner and Gary Sharp will have the call on Thursday and Sunday.
Updates will be provided during the match on Twitter (@CreightonMSOC).
Series History: Creighton Leads Florida International 2-1-1
The Bluejays and Panthers have met four times, including a 1-1 draw at FIU last season. It was the second trip to FIU for the Bluejays, also heading out in 1991. The other two meetings between the two teams were neutral site affairs in 1992 and 1998.
Date Site Score
9/28/91 at FIU L, 1-4
10/3/92 in St Louis, Missouri W, 3-0
9/12/98 in Dallas, Texas W, 6-1
8/24/25 at FIU T, 1-1
Creighton leads Drake, 28-3-8
Former Missouri Valley Conference foes, Creighton and Drake have met 39 times on the pitch. The Bluejays hold a commanding 28 victories and have fell to the Bulldogs just three times. Creighton has taken the last six meetings and has not lost in nine contests.
Last Five Meetings
Date Opponent Score
Oct. 7, 2014 at Drake W, 1-0
Oct. 6, 2015 Drake W, 2-1
Nov. 22, 2015 # Drake W, 5-1
Oct. 10, 2017 Drake W, 6-1
Aug. 24, 2024 Drake W, 5-3
# = NCAA Tournament
Season Opening Success
Creighton is 22-6-8 during their first match of the season since Creighton restarted its men's soccer program in 1990. The Bluejays are 15-3-5 during home-openers at Morrison Stadium.
Scouting Creighton (0-0-0)
The Bluejays enter the 2026 season with a nice blend of new talent and veteran leadership. Creighton's most experienced unit is the back line with Brian Edelman and Andrija Savic as well as goalkeeper Matthew Hudson returning to guide the defense.
Defender Matthew Reed is also back in 2026, but played more in the midfield during the Bluejays' exhibition contests. Creighton went 8-4-4 last season, including a 4-2-2 mark in BIG EAST games.
Scouting Florida International (0-0-0)
The Panthers went 7-9-3 during the 2025 season, including a 1-7-0 record on the road. The Panthers enter their fifth season in the American Conference following a strong 2025 campaign that saw FIU advance to the American Conference Championship match for the second consecutive season and third time in the last four years before falling to eventual champion Florida Atlantic.
Head coach Kyle Russell enters his seventh season at the helm, leading a squad that combines key returners with an influx of impactful newcomers.
Scouting Drake (0-0-0)
Drake closed the 2025 season with an 8-2-7 overall mark, including a 3-2-3 record in road matches. Last year, Drake earned its first regular season conference title in program history, settling for the No. 2 seed in the MVC Tournament via tiebreakers.
Eskil Gjerde highlighted Drake's postseason award winners with his second MVC Midfielder of the Year honor in as many seasons. Gjerde, along with Cole Schrage, were named to the Missouri Valley Conference First Team.
The Bulldogs landed in second in the 2026 MVC Preseason Coaches' Poll, only behind league favorite Western Michigan. Drake, along with Evansville, earned one first-place vote. Butkovic, DeLong, Kipnusu, and Schrage were named to the 2026 Preseason All-MVC team.
Florida International and Drake Open Season Versus Bluejays and Mavericks
Florida International and Drake will battle Creighton and Omaha over the opening weekend. FIU opens the season against the Bluejays, while Drake faces Omaha. The road teams flip locations on Sunday.
Creighton Picked to Finish Second in the Midwest
Creighton Men's Soccer was picked to finish second in the Midwest Division of the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll, announced on Tuesday, August 11.
Creighton defender Matthew Reed was a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad, one of 12 players recognized by the 12 BIG EAST coaches.
The Bluejays are coming off an 8-4-4 record in 2025, closing BIG EAST play at 4-2-2. Creighton returns 16 players from last season, including Reed, Andrija Savic and Brian Edelman along the back line as well as goalkeeper Matthew Hudson. Reed and Savic both earned All-BIG EAST honors last season (Second Team for Reed and Third Team for Savic), while Hudson played every second in goal last season.
2026 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
Midwest Division (first-place votes)
1. Akron (11) 66
2. Creighton (1) 56
3. Xavier 43
4. Marquette 34
5. DePaul 27
6. Butler 20
East Division(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown (11) 66
2. Connecticut 46
3. Providence (1) 45
3. St. John's 37
5. Seton Hall 36
6. Villanova 16
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Soccer
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