This past week was a test for #3 Creighton Prep soccer. For the first time this year, the Junior Jays had to prove they could respond following a loss after a 3-0 defeat to Lincoln Southwest. Not only did the Junior Jays pass this test, but they aced it. They played perhaps their best week of the season with dominant victories over #6 Omaha Central and Omaha North. 

The game against Central marked the end of a grueling opening schedule, with 4 top-10 opponents in the Junior Jay’s first 5 games. 

For the first 25 minutes, neither team could break the stalemate. 10 minutes into the game, Prep goalkeeper Alec Sibbernsen had perhaps his best save of the season. He stopped Central midfielder Doctar Majawila in a one-on-one. His save kept the Junior Jays from an early deficit. 

With 11 minutes left in the half, Prep forward Louis Tokporo broke the stalemate with a goal following a deflection off a shot from Jordan Igwenma. 10 minutes later, Prep defenseman Drayton Beber tallied his first goal of the season with a header, giving Prep a commanding lead entering the locker room.

The Junior Jay defense held strong in the second half. After exiting the locker room, Sibbernsen did not have to make any more saves. The defense dominated the Eagles’ forwards. Beber’s second goal of the game capped a 3-0 shutout victory against the Eagles in the Junior Jay’s best performance of the season. 

Against Omaha North, the floodgates broke and the Junior Jays unleashed 23 shots on goal. Sophomore forward Connor Lodes found the net 20 seconds into the game, and it was all Prep from there. Brody Brakke doubled the lead after his free kick was deflected past the Central back line. Matt Sledge and Noah Hogan-Doria both scored within 1 minute of each other early in the second half. The Junior Jays capped a 6-0 victory with a goal off a corner from Gabe Vaughn and a shot from Zac McLeay. 

This rare shutout week displayed how dominant the Junior Jay defense has been all season. Sibbernsen has 4 shutouts in his first 6 career games. He’s allowed 0.83 goals per game this season.

 A back line led by Beber has been dominant. He, along with Brakke and Sean Stratman have not only led one of the best defenses in the state but have provided a spark on the offensive end of the field. Both Beber and Brakke have found the back of the net this season. 

I think this team has the potential to be back-to-back state champions. This team looks more dominant than last year’s squad. The additions of Igwenma and Tokporo have provided a spark to this offense that was absent last year, and the defensive dominance is more prominent than ever. 

As long as the foot stays on the gas, the Junior Jays will be title contenders come May and will look to be the first repeat champions since 2012. 

This week, the Junior Jays enter the Metro Soccer Tournament as the #1 overall seed. They play the winner of Buena Vista and Bellevue East.