DePaul University Athletics
Men's Soccer Drops Opener at Valparaiso
8/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
Box Score
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Despite doubling the amount of shots against Valparaiso, the DePaul men’s soccer team couldn’t find the net in a 2-0 loss on Friday evening. In the season-opening match for both teams, the Blue Demons totaled 18 shots compared to nine attempts for the Crusaders.
Valparaiso (1-0-0) scored a goal in each half with the first half score occurring in the ninth minute of action. Steve Shivley knocked in a point blank shot off assists from Paul Leitelt and Jon Brighton. His score at 8:44 held the score at 1-0 through the first half despite an 8-5 advantage for DePaul on shots.
Less than 10 minutes into the second half, the Crusaders added an insurance goal as Leitelt connected on a free kick from just outside the top of the penalty box at 53:57. The Blue Demons were busy in the second half offensively with 10 shots to only four for the home team.
Peter Sterbenz and Nathan Feltz totaled four shots each while goalkeeper Brian Visser finished the match with two saves.
DePaul (0-1-0) plays the first home match of the 2006 season on Sunday afternoon at Wish Field. The Blue Demons host Loyola-Chicago at 4 p.m. in the second game of a DePaul soccer doubleheader. The DePaul women’s team opens the action on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game against Eastern Washington.
Match Notes: Nine of the 11 starters were sophomores or freshman… the Blue Demons are 1-5-0 in their last six season-opening matches… the program has also played five of the last six season-opening matches on the road with the win coming at Wish Field… the Blue Demons defeated Loyola-Chicago, 2-0, to start the 2004 season… the loss was the 21st straight on the road.