JAMAICA, N.Y. -- It was a season highlighted by winning streaks, rankings and ribbon cuttings. The St. Johns mens soccer team reeled off a pair of five game-winning streaks, and were the No. 1-ranked team in the country for five weeks. They also unveiled their own new on-campus field, Belson Stadium, a 2,000-plus seat stadium that gave fans one of the best atmospheres for college soccer in the country.

And while those highlights might have been enough for most teams, they were not for St. Johns. After losing in the Final Four last year, the Red Storm mens team came back this season determined to bring another national title back to the St. Johns campus.

On Sunday, however, the St. Johns mens soccer team had that dream halted when Creighton midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy scored with 2:04 left in the first overtime period, lifting the Bluejays to a 1-0 win over the Red Storm in front of 527 fans at Belson Stadium.

Played on a sunny but cold day  the temperature was 34 degrees at kickoff, with wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour  the Red Storm and Bluejays battled for 90 minutes before Ballouchys decisive goal gave Creighton (17-3-2) the win, moving them on to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face Boston College, a 5-4 winner over SMU in penalty kicks.

Any loss is tough, especially a season-ending loss, St. Johns Head Coach Dave Masur said. You have high aspirations and you go into the game knowing you have to play well and do all the right things, which we think we did.

It was a closely played, physical game throughout. The Bluejays had the first chance, with Luiz Del Montes shot from 20 yards out going wide. Sophomore Andre Schmid (Sacramento, Calif.) made a run up the near sideline early in the half and was attempting to send a cross to a streaking Simone Salinno (Lucera, Italy), but his cross was cleared and the threat was stopped. After a Salinno shot was blocked in the 39th minute, senior Matia Damiani (Foggia, Italy) had a header saved by Creighton goalkeeper Mike Gabb.

In the second half, with the Red Storm attacking the west goal and going into the wind, St. Johns had chances, but could not get one past Gabb. Two minutes into the second half, senior Rich Bradley (Bayport, N.Y.) nearly connected, but his header from the middle of the box went high. In the 47th minute, Creightons Julian Nash brought the ball downfield, and went through traffic, with his shot from eight yards out hitting the far left post.

In the 54th minute, sophomore Chris Leidner (Greenlawn, N.Y.) sent a cross to Bradley on the far side of the field. Bradley sent the ball to the box, where Damianis shot was saved from 10 yards out.

Creighton outshot St. Johns, 12-7, with four shots on goal to the Red Storms two. The Bluejays had five corner kicks, while St. Johns finished with two.

It was the first loss on campus for St. Johns, which finishes the season 13-3-5, since a 1-0 decision to Pittsburgh on September 9, 2000.