DePaul University Athletics
Men's Soccer Tops Syracuse
10/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
Box Score
CHICAGO – The DePaul men’s soccer team claimed their first BIG EAST victory with a 1-0 win over visiting Syracuse on Saturday afternoon. Jeff DeGroot scored a first-half goal and goalkeeper Brian Visser earned his third shutout of the season.
The Blue Demons were able to find the net on the first of their two first-half shots. Julian Chill and DeGroot teamed up for the first goal of the afternoon at 12:51. Chill countered a Syracuse attack and found DeGroot all alone in front of Syracuse keeper Robert Cavicchia. DeGroot took two dribbles and fired a low liner to the left corner of the net for his third goal of the season.
Both teams finished the first period with just two shots each while the Blue Demons held a 4-0 advantage on corner kicks. The second half was very similar to the first period as both teams finished with five shots apiece.
Midway through the second half, Syracuse’s Pete Rowley nearly flipped in a shot in front of the DePaul goal, but a diving Visser made the stop to keep the shutout alive. The Blue Demons countered, but a shot by Chill was wide of the left post.
With just over 19 minutes left, Chill stole a Syracuse pass and fed a streaking Eric Hermosillo. Hermosillo lined up a shot from the right side, but it was just wide of the left post.
Two minutes later, it was Hermosillo again, but this time his shot from the left side of the box rolled just wide of the right post. Neither team could put together a strong opportunity over the remainder of the match. Syracuse (4-4-2, 0-4-1 BIG EAST) took three corner kicks in the second half while the Blue Demons had zero attempts.
The win for the Blue Demons ended a three-match losing streak and gave the men’s soccer program DePaul’s first win in BIG EAST competition. Visser finished the afternoon with three saves.
DePaul (3-5-2, 1-3-1 BIG EAST) travels to Villanova next Saturday for the first of two straight conference matches. Kickoff with the Wildcats is set for Noon EST in Philadelphia. On Oct. 12, the Blue Demons head south for a Wednesday night match at South Florida.