DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Host Valparaiso
9/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO - The DePaul men's soccer team plays the second of three straight season-opening home games on Sunday afternoon against Valparaiso. The Blue Demons opened the 2004 campaign with a 2-0 win over Loyola on Wednesday. Kickoff at Wish Field is set for 4 p.m. and is the second match of a soccer doubleheader. The DePaul women's team takes on Liberty at 1 p.m.
Looking at the Blue Demons: Dating back to last season, the Blue Demons have posted nine wins with nine shutouts... DePaul returns 18 players and welcomes nine newcomers to the 2004 roster... of those 18 returners, six are seniors, six are juniors and there are six sophomores... offensively, the Blue Demons return the top five scorers from a year ago... in the last two seasons, the club has combined for the most wins (16) since the 1994 and 95 teams combined for 19 victories... the club has posted 12 wins in their last 16 matches at Wish Field... head coach Craig Blazer is in his fourth season in Lincoln Park.
Last Time Out: Goals in a span of three minutes by Alec Kulinczenko and Patrick Vyncke propelled the Blue Demons over Loyola, 2-0, on Wednesday at Wish Field. Following a scoreless first half, Kulinczenko tallied is first collegiate goal off a rebound in the 64th minute. At 67:11, Vyncke knocked in a header off a cross from Edwin Arreola to seal the win for the Blue Demons.
Scouting the Crusaders: Valparaiso stands at 0-1-0 after losing to Oregon State, 4-2 on Sept. 1... their match with St. Joseph's (Ind.) on Friday was postponed... a year ago, Valparaiso held a 2-13-2 record... head coach Mis' Mrak is in his 14th season as head coach... Sunday is the first meeting since the 2001 season when the Crusaders posted a 4-2 win in Valparaiso.
Preseason Picks: The Blue Demons were picked eighth in the annual Conference USA preseason poll. Defending champion Saint Louis was picked as the preseason favorite while Will John of Saint Louis and UAB’s Leandro de Oliviera were picked as preseason co-Players of the Year.
What’s Ahead: The Blue Demons open Conference USA action against USF on Wednesday. The Blue Demons and Bulls kick off at 3 p.m. on Wish Field. Next weekend, DePaul travels to Evanston as one of four teams at the Best Western Lakeside Invitational.
