FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The 10th-ranked Creighton men's soccer team opened its exhibition season with a 1-1 draw against defending NCAA champion Akron on Saturday night as part of the ShinDigz National Soccer Festival.

Junior Andrew Ribeiro scored the first goal to give the Bluejays an early 1-0 lead.

Playing without two returning All-Missouri Valley Conference starting forwards, the Bluejays still managed to put heavy pressure on the No. 2-ranked Zips early in the contest.

Ribeiro's bicycle-kick goal midway through the first half put the Bluejays ahead after the Jays had taken five of the first six shots. Kris Clark served the ball into the middle, where Ribeiro scored.

"I thought in parts we played really well tonight," first-year Creighton coach Elmar Bolowich said. "And in parts, we didn't play as well.

"Early on, we put together some great scoring chances, but toward the end we lost our rhythm. But overall, I thought we put together a great effort tonight."

Akron tied the match late in the first half on a goal by sophomore Darren Mattocks, the second-highest scoring NCAA freshman in 2010.

The Bluejays defended well enough to prevent the Zips from any promising scoring chances. Senior goalkeeper Brian Holt was in goal for the full 90 minutes for Creighton. The exhibition match did not extend into overtime.

Creighton returns to action, remaining in Indiana for another exhibition match against another Top 25 team, as the Bluejays play at preseason No. 12 Notre Dame on Monday at 6 p.m. CDT.

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