DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Defeats Pittsburgh
9/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO Erich Reichmann’s goal in the 64th minute proved to be the difference as the DePaul men’s soccer team grabbed a key BIG EAST victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday. John Kornfeld and Steffen Vroom set up the match’s lone goal while the DePaul defense held Pittsburgh scoreless.
DePaul (3-4-2, 2-2-0 BIG EAST) outshot Pittsburgh, 11-6, in the match including a 6-2 first-half advantage. The best chance for the Blue Demons came in the 31st minute when Mark Plotkin’s serve across the penalty box found Willy Lara. Lara fired a one-time laser at the net, but Eric Barnes was there for the stop.
The Blue Demons continued their pressure in the second half. In the 55th minute, Reichmann found himself open in front of the right post. However, his shot from 10 yards sailed over the crossbar and kept the scoreboard scoreless.
Less than 10 minutes later, Reichmann made sure his next shot was under the crossbar. Kornfeld started the action at midfield and lofted a serve into the box. Vroom set up Reichmann with a header over to the left side and Reichmann finished the play with a bouncer past Barnes at 63:12. For Reichmann it was his first goal of the season.
Pittsburgh (5-4-1, 1-3-0 BIG EAST) looked to knot the score over the remainder of the afternoon, but the DePaul defense held strong. The best chance came off a 25-yard shot from the top of the penalty box by Eric Jaeger. His attempt was deflected by Brian Visser and ricocheted off the crossbar with just over six minutes left in regulation.
Visser finished the game with the single save for his fifth shutout of the season. Barnes totaled three stops in the net for Pittsburgh. The Blue Demons also attempted five corner kicks to one for the Panthers.
DePaul opens Red Division play on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Rutgers. The Blue Demons and Scarlet Knights square off at 7 p.m. ET. Following that match, the Blue Demons host USF on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Game Notes: Erich Reichmann’s goal was the third of his career... DePaul is now 3-2 in games decided by one goal... Brian Visser registered his 22nd career shutout... the series is tied at 2-2-0... DePaul has won the last two meetings by a score of 1-0 in each game.