DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Falls to Northwestern
9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
Box Score
CHICAGO – Playing their third nationally-ranked team in the last four matches, the DePaul men’s soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 14/23 Northwestern. A goal in the 73rd minute broke a scoreless tie as the Blue Demons outshot the Wildcats, 10-9.
The first half played even with each team attempting just three shots. DePaul (2-6-2) was active early taking their three shots along with two corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of action. With 12 minutes until halftime, Northwestern (7-1-0) put together two shots off one of their three first-half corner kick opportunities when David Roth’s serve into the box found Will Nicholas on the upper right corner. He fired a shot towards the net that was blocked as was the follow-up attempt by Drew Ratner.
DePaul and Northwestern took shots at each other with neither team giving in. Finally in the 73rd minute, the Wildcats broke through on Geoff Fallon’s first goal of the season. Gerardo Alvarez set up the action from midfield as he found Fallon on the right side of the penalty box. Fallon took the pass and fired a laser to the upper right corner at 72:17 for the game-winner.
The Blue Demons didn’t back down as the continued pressure to get the equalizer. With five minutes left in regulation, Erich Reichmann sent a blast that hit the crossbar. In the final two minutes, DePaul nearly knocked in a goal off a long free kick, but a Northwestern defender was there to clear the ball off the goal line and preserve the shutout.
DePaul returns to BIG EAST action this weekend with a game at Rutgers. The Blue Demons and Scarlet Knights clash on Sunday afternoon at Yurcak Field with kickoff slated for 2 p.m. EST.
Match Notes: DePaul suffered the fourth straight shutout of the season… it is the first time since the 1998 season that the Blue Demons have been held without a goal for four consecutive games… the Blue Demons are now 1-3 this season in games decided by one goal… Northwestern has claimed the last three meetings between the two programs… the Wildcats posted 2-1 double-overtime victories in 2004 and 2003.