DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Top Rutgers in Dramatic Fashion
10/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO --Â Alex Mangan's goal in the 108th minute lifted DePaul over Rutgers in BIG EAST play on Saturday at Wish Field. Both teams generated numerous chances throughout the afternoon until Mangan's fifth goal of the season ended the match with a 1-0 victory for the Blue Demons.
The two teams took the first half to feel each other out with DePaul's best chance for a goal in the 31st minute when Mangan hit the post on a shot. The period ended with DePaul (7-4-0, 3-3-0 BIG EAST) outshooting the visitors by a 7-4 margin.
The second half provided some the most entertaining soccer seen at Wish Field this season as both teams created chances only to see the keepers stuff each attempt. DePaul's Brian Visser turned in one his top performances with an array of diving stops and deflections to tally his record-setting seventh shutout of the season. The junior finished the afternoon with seven saves while Rutgers' Matt Van Oekel totaled eight stops.
Ten minutes into the second half, Mangan nearly put DePaul on the board again as his header over Van Oekel was cleared at the net by Aly Manhar for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers (5-7-1, 3-4-0 BIG EAST) created a wide-open shot for Kevin McFadden in the 63rd minute, but Visser was all over it to hold the shutout.
In the 65th minute, Visser saved Chris Moore's attempt to put Rutgers ahead before he knocked away Adam Sternberger's point-blank shot with eight minutes left in regulation. Visser's seven saves bettered his previous season high of five stops set on two occasions.
DePaul countered and created three straight chances with Van Oekel matching Visser on diving stops and deflections. During the flurry, Van Oekel totaled three saves on shots by Steffen Vroom, Patrick Hopkins and a header by Mangan off a corner kick.
After a first overtime session that saw just a single shot by the Scarlet Knights, the Blue Demons took four shots in the second extra frame. The final shot of the afternoon started with Brent Zang on the left sideline who led Mangan with a pass at the top of the box. With a defender on his back and Van Oekel charging to make a save, Mangan flipped the ball just over the Rutgers keeper and it rolled into the net at 107:20 for the game-winning goal. The score was Mangan's fifth of the season and his fourth game-winning goal.
DePaul travels to USF for a Red Division match on Tuesday night. The Bulls sit one point ahead of the Blue Demons in the divisional standings with USF at 10 points and DePaul at nine points. Kickoff in Tampa is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Match Notes: Brian Visser set the season shutout record with his seventh shutout in 2007... Brent Rosenberger previously held the record of six in 1994... Alex Mangan moved into a tie for 25th all-time in scoring... he has totaled 21 career points on 10 goals and one assist... DePaul's 6-1-0 record at Wish Field matches the program's best seasonal home record... the Blue Demons are 2-0-0 in overtime matches this season... Rutgers now leads the series, 2-1-0.