DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Knock Off No. 2 Connecticut
9/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
Box Score
CHICAGO A season of firsts continued on Sunday afternoon for the men’s soccer team as the Blue Demons knocked off No. 2 Connecticut at Wish Field. The Huskies entered the match undefeated at 7-0-0, but left Lincoln Park on the short end of a 1-0 score after Steffen Vroom scored in the 86th minute.
DePaul (5-1-0, 1-1-0 BIG EAST) played the visiting Huskies even throughout the entire afternoon. The Blue Demons totaled 12 shots while Connecticut made 10 attempts.
As the first half wound down, DePaul created a pair of scoring chances. John Kornfeld found Vroom on the right flank. Kornfeld’s pass hit Vroom in stride, but his attempt for the match’s first goal was deflected by Connecticut keeper Josh Ford in the 40th minute. Three minutes later it was Jeff DeGroot on the inside left half of the 18-yard box and again Ford thwarted the Blue Demon scoring opportunity.
The second half went back-and-forth until Willy Lara was fouled just outside of the penalty box. Vroom lined up the free kick as Connecticut (7-1-0, 2-1-0 BIG EAST) formed their defensive wall. Vroom paid no attention to the Connecticut defense as he bent the ball over the wall and into the upper left corner for the game-winning goal at 85:43.
DePaul goalkeeper Brian Visser notched his fifth shutout of the season with three saves while Ford finished the game with six stops. Connecticut entered the match having scored 15 goals in their previous seven matches.
The Blue Demons hit the road next weekend for the first time this season. DePaul travels to West Virginia and Pittsburgh for a pair of BIG EAST matches. The schedule sees a Friday night match at No. 5/7 West Virginia before a Sunday afternoon game at Pittsburgh.
Match Notes: Connecticut at No. 2 in each of the national polls is the highest ranked men’s team to play at Wish Field... the Blue Demons have won two straight games at home over ranked opponents... they also defeated No. 11 USF in 2006... DePaul’s five victories match the total for the entire 2006 season... Steffen Vroom is the sixth different player to score a goal this season... the goal was also the first of his career... the meeting was the first between the two programs.