Senior commits to Creighton

Darlington senior Blake Gardner has committed to play NCAA Division 1 soccer for Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. The Creighton Bluejays, ranked as high as No. 2 in preseason polls, have won three straight Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships and last year advanced to the Elite 8 quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament before losing 1-0 to eventual national champion Maryland. Gardner is a member of Darlington School Soccer Academy and the son of Jeff and Christine Gardner. He previously attended Pulaski Academy and played soccer for the Little Rock Futbol Club.