DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Advance to BIG EAST Semifinals
11/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO--Â A goal by Steffen Vroom early in the second half led DePaul to a 1-0 win over Cincinnati and into next weekend's BIG EAST Championship semifinals. With the win, the Blue Demons matched the program's most wins in a season at 12 and finished the 2007 home schedule with a 9-1-0 record at Wish Field.
The first half saw Cincinnati (9-10-1) outshoot the Blue Demons by a 6-1 margin, but the DePaul defense didn't give in. Thirteen minutes into the match, Kenny Anaba got past a DePaul defender and took an open shot from 10 yards, but Brian Visser stuffed the attempt.
Less than 10 minutes later it was Patrick Hopkins on a header from a corner kick, but Cincinnati's Migel Rosales made the stop.
DePaul (12-6-0) turned up the pressure off the opening kick of the second half and capitalized in the 50th minute. Julian Chill started the action with a hard shot from the right flank that Rosales deflected. A charging Vroom took advantage of the rebound and headed it home for the game-winning goal at 49:45.
Visser finished the afternoon with three saves while Rosales also totaled three stops. The Bearcats took a dozen shots in the match while DePaul picked up the pace in the second half to total six shots.
The Blue Demons move on to the Storrs, Conn., for next weekend's semifinals. DePaul is scheduled to face the winner of the St. John's-Notre Dame match. Those two teams square off at Notre Dame on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Both semifinal matches of the BIG EAST Championship are set to be televised on CSTV.
Match Notes: DePaul's 12th victory matches a program record... it equals the mark set by the 1994 squad... the Blue Demons finished the home schedule with a 9-1-0 record... DePaul allowed just three goals this season at Wish Field... DePaul is now 8-3 in games decided by one goal... the Blue Demons advance to a conference tournament semifinal for the first time in school history... DePaul has now won five straight matches and six of the last seven against BIG EAST opponents... Julian Chill's assist moved him into a tie for fourth all-time... he is tied with Joe Owerko (1983-85) with 17 career helpers... Cincinnati now leads the series, 14-7-3.