DePaul University Athletics
Brian Visser Notches 25th Career Shutout in Win Over Loyola
10/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO -- DePaul remained unbeaten for the fifth straight game with a 2-0 win over visiting Loyola-Chicago on Wednesday. Patrick Hopkins and Mark Plotkin scored for the Blue Demons while Brian Visser registered his 25th career shutout.
The first half saw both teams go back-and-forth as they played in a steady drizzle under cool conditions. Fifteen minutes into the game Steffen Vroom found Plotkin on the left side, but his shot to the far post was knocked away by Loyola's Brian Byrne.
DePaul (6-4-3) capitalized on a hand ball by the Ramblers in the penalty box in the 41st minute. Following the foul, Hopkins lined up the penalty kick and fired a line drive to the lower-left half of the net for his first goal of the season at 40:22.
Visser made the save of the day in the 56th minute when Loyola Keum Sung Kim lined up a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. His shot bent around DePaul's defensive wall, but Visser was there at the near post to make the save. The DePaul keeper finished the afternoon with six saves.
DePaul countered and peppered the Loyola net with Plotkin finishing the play on a one-timer at 57:48. As the Ramblers attempted to clear the ball, it floated over to Plotkin on the left flank. The junior right-footed the ball out of the air and to the back of the net for a 2-0 Blue Demon lead.
Loyola (8-3-1) was unable to mount any measurable chances over the remainder of the match and DePaul finished with a 10-8 advantage in shots. Byrne tallied four saves in the 90 minutes while allowing the two goals.
The Blue Demons take their unbeaten streak on the road and back into BIG EAST play with a Saturday night game at Syracuse. Kickoff with the Orange is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. DePaul's next home match is against Red Division leader No. 4/5 (NSCAA/Soccer America) St. John's on Oct. 25.
Game Notes: DePaul has scored multiple goals in back-to-back games for the first time this season... the five-match unbeaten streak is the longest stretch without a loss during the Craig Blazer era... the penalty kick by Patrick Hopkins was the first by a DePaul player this season and the first by any Blue Demon on the active roster... Brian Visser totaled his 25th career shutout and eighth of the season... he set the season record in 2007 with 10 shutouts... Loyola leads the series, 16-11-1.