DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Run Unbeaten Streak to Four
10/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO Two goals late in the first half pushed the DePaul men’s soccer team to its second straight BIG EAST win on Saturday at Wish Field. Peter Sterbenz and Steffen Vroom scored as the Blue Demons topped visiting Cincinnati, 2-1, to keep their unbeaten streak alive at four games.
The Blue Demons came out firing off the first whistle as Nathan Feltz fed Vroom at the left post. Vroom beat a defender eight yards out, but his shot to the far post was stopped on a one-handed save by Cincinnati’s Matt Williams.
Later in the first period, the two sides traded chances as DePaul’s Erich Reichmann forced Williams into a diving save on a turnaround shot at the top of the 18-yard box in the 29th minute. Three minutes later, Cincinnati’s Francesco Furio made a charge at the DePaul net, but Brian Visser came in for the save to end the chance for the Bearcats.
The Blue Demons broke through in the 36th minute when Vroom fed Sterbenz at the top of the box. Sterbenz fired a low liner that hit a Cincinnati defender. The ball ricocheted into the air and looked as if it was clearing the crossbar, but at the last second dipped inside the bar for the score at 35:39.
Just under seven minutes later, DePaul struck again as Reichmann found Vroom at the mouth of the goal and lofted in a cross from the left side. Vroom headed the ball in traffic and sent it to the back of the net at 42:00.
DePaul (5-4-3, 4-2-1 BIG EAST) kept the pressure on as a goal was called off in the 57th minute due to offsides. On the ensuing kickoff, Reichmann intercepted the ball and found a streaking Vroom. Vroom dribbled ahead of the Cincinnati defense and fired a shot from 15 yards. Williams was there once again with a diving save off the laser from Vroom’s foot.
Cincinnati (3-7-2, 1-5-1 BIG EAST) attempted to cut the deficit and scored the lone goal of the game on a penalty kick 88:50. Following a DePaul foul in the box, Brad Simpson lined up the penalty kick and scored.
The Blue Demons play their final non-conference game of the regular season on Wednesday when Loyola-Chicago visits Wish Field. Kickoff with the Ramblers is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game can be seen live at www.depaulbluedemons.com.
Game Notes: DePaul scored more than one goal in a match for the first time this season... the four-game unbeaten streak is the longest since the 4-0-0 start of the 2007 season... all six career goals for Steffen Vroom have been game-winners... Cincinnati leads the series, 14-8-3... DePaul has won the last two games between the two clubs.