Fresh off College Cup run, Creighton adds 11 to men’s soccer roster for 2023

By Glen Sisk (gocreighton.com)

Omaha, Neb. – Coming off a return to the College Cup during the 2022 season, Creighton’s sixth College Cup appearance, the Bluejays have added 11 new faces for the 2023 season.

Joining the Bluejays are: Pablo Andrade, Miguel Arilla, Lucio Berron, Nick Cenek, Blake Gillingham, Fefo Granados, Edward Morales, Ali Ramadan, Omar Ramadan, Matthew Reed and Andrijia Savic.

“This is strong incoming group that will both fill gaps on our team and help us remain at the elite level of the sport,” said head coach Johnny Torres. “Our staff, headed by recruiting coordinator Ian Sarachan, continually do an excellent job evaluating and bringing tremendous talent for to Creighton.”

Pablo Andrade – Chula Vista, Calif. – Freshman – Goalkeeper

Andrade played at the top-level academy in San Diego. During the 2023 season he will compete with a strong group of goalkeepers

Miguel Arilla – Spain – Freshman – Midfielder

An attacking midfielder, Arilla brings the ability to play multiple positions for the Bluejays. His international experience and high-level of attacking attributes could provide a chance to contribute immediately.

Lucio Berron – Santa Fe, Argentina – Junior (Coastal Carolina) – Midfielder

An experienced ball-winning central midfielder from Coastal Carolina, Berron saw action in 30 matches over two seasons. Playing a combined 1,693 minutes, he scored one goal and delivered a pair of assists. Characterized as a player who enjoys doing a lot of the dirty work.

Nick Cenek – Peoria, Illinois – Freshman – Midfielder

Getting a jump on his collegiate career, Cenek came to campus in the spring of 2023. The wingback plays with tremendous pace and has a knack for scoring once he is in front of the goal. Cenek was a two-time All-State selection and a three-time All-Mid Illini pick.

Blake Gillingham – San Jose, California – Sophomore (Santa Clara) – Goalkeeper

Gillingham got his first collegiate action last season as a member of the Santa Clara Broncos. He appeared in four matches, including three starts. Logging just over 287 minutes, Gillingham is expected to push Nathan Schnur for time in the net in 2023. He was ranked amongst IMG Academy’s top 150 players entering the 2021 season, his redshirt campaign.

Fefo Granados – Guayaquil, Ecuador – Freshman – Midfielder

Another player that came to Omaha for the spring season, Granados is regarded as a highly technical player. Granados, however, is returning to the pitch following an injury and is expected to contribute to the central midfield.

Edward Morales – New Bronsville, Texas – Freshman – Midfielder

An RGVSports.com (Rio Grande Valley) All-Valley Team selection, Morales brings strong technical skills and can play multiple positions. Coming to Creighton from a top academy (Houston Dynamo), Morales is expected to provide depth in the attacking part of the field.

Ali Ramadan – Algonquin, Illinois – Freshman – Midfielder

Creighton grabbed two very talented players from the back yard of a BIG EAST rival, scooping up both Ramadan brothers from Algonquin, Illinois. Technical and dangerous around goal. Ali can play as an attacking midfielder or in the center of the park. Ali and his brother Omar come from a family of soccer players. Their older brother Youssef played at DePaul, while their father Ahmed played professionally in Egypt and Dubai. In addition, their sister, Nadia, is part of Egypt’s women’s national team,

Omar Ramadan – Algonquin, Illinois – Junior (DePaul) – Midfielder

Omar comes to Creighton with two years of eligibility remaining. In three seasons at DePaul, he appeared in 43 matches, starting 41. He logged a combined 3,255 minutes with one goal and eight assists. Seven of his assists as well as his goal came in BIG EAST contests, including one against the Bluejays. Omar is expected to by a box-to-box midfielder that will contribute immediately. He is considered highly technical, with a strong range of passing.

Matthew Reed – Felton, Delaware – Freshman – Defender

Coming to Creighton from Delaware, Reed excelled in the wing-back position for FC Delco academy. Possessing the ability to play with good pace, he is highly effective out wide in a one-on-one battle.

Andrijia Savic – Belgrade, Serbia – Freshman – Defender