Elmar Bolowich began the process of assembling a lot of moving parts - many of them new - into a Creighton soccer team that can match its preseason hype.

The Bluejays held their first practice Wednesday morning, beginning a series of two-a-day training sessions that will carry into next week.

"It was rough," Bolowich said about the first practice. "First days are always rough."

Especially when half the team is made up of freshmen or transfers. The Bluejays lost seven starters off the team that went 21-2-1 last season and made it to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament.

That departure of talent didn't keep the coaches from picking Creighton third in the preseason poll released Tuesday. Bolowich scoffed at the high ranking, saying it was based on what happened last year.

"I know I didn't vote us third," he said.

His veteran players accept the ranking for what it is at this point.

"It doesn't mean a whole lot," defender Eric Miller said.