DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Rate With the NCAA
10/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
The Blue Demons aren't anywhere to be found on any national soccer polls, but the inaugural NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) placed DePaul at No. 18---the highest rating for any team in the BIG EAST Conference.
The RPI is a key factor in determining at-large berths for the NCAA tournament.
"We are encouraged with our RPI ranking," said DePaul coach Craig Blazer. "The ranking is reflective of our quality wins and the quality teams we play.
"We plan to build on this success as we have a challenging stretch of five road games out of our last six games."
That test begins on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. visit to Loyola Soccer Park in the Rogers Park community.
The Ramblers are 3-4-3, but 1-0-1 at home. They have three losses and two ties in their last five matches---four of which were on the road.
Mark Halma is Loyola's top scoring threat with three goals and one assist for seven points. The defensive-minded Ramblers feature goalkeeper Peter McKeown, who has only given up eight goals. He has posted four shutouts and has a goals-against average of 0.78.
DePaul (7-5-0, 4-3-0 in the BIG EAST) is back on the road Saturday for a noon matchup with Villanova (6-5-2, 3-3-1). The Blue Demons are second in the Red Division with 12 points while Villanova is fourth with 10 points.
The Wildcats have outscored opponents 18-14 behind Mike Seamon (three goals, six assists) and Kyle Soroka (four goals, one assist). Seamon has launched 53 shots with 21 on goal. Villanova has also outpointed its opposition 51-39, outshot it 172-143 and has 76 shots on goal to the opponents' 61.
With 11 of its 18 regular-season games away from Wish Field, DePaul had no choice but to learn how to win on the road.
"This team has a different history than the others I've coached," Blazer said. "These players have been to the NCAA and BIG EAST tournaments. They know how to handle challenges.
"There is a higher expectation level for this team."
Steffen Vroom has expressed a team sentiment that the Blue Demons need to win out to be considered for an at-large NCAA berth if they don't win the BIG EAST tournament.
"We're using the recent history of our program to motivate our players," Blazer said. "Two years ago we won the Red Division, advanced to the BIG EAST semifinals and received an at-large bid.
"Last year, we followed up by again making it to the BIG EAST semifinals and had an RPI rating of 48.
"But, we were left out of the NCAA tournament."
Blazer sees NCAA tournament significance in Wednesday's match against Loyola and next week's matchup at Butler with its No. 11 RPI.
"Both of these are games that will impact our chances for the NCAA tournament," Blazer said. "If we don't get a result, it will affect the overall picture of gaining an at-large bid.
"Of course, our first goal is to win the BIG EAST and gain the automatic bid."
Those five road games in the final six matches do not seem to bother the Blue Demons.
"We have a core group of seniors who have shown a lot of maturity," Blazer said. "This DePaul team is not only accustomed to traveling, but also winning very meaningful games.
"These guys enjoy playing soccer so much that they want the season to go on as long as it can. That can happen if they put their marks on every game."