DePaul University Athletics
Feltz Sets Up Mangan in the Nick of Time
10/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO - There was only 1 minute, 37 seconds left on the clock and DePaul was down by a goal.
Not to worry, Blue Demon fans.
The ball was in the capable feet of one Nathan Feltz---nicknamed "The Man of the Match" by teammate Alex Mangan.
Feltz floated a can't-miss pass to Mangan, whose header goal with 1:33 left led to a 2-2, double-overtime tie with Loyola Wednesday night at Loyola Soccer Park.
"Alex has been such a clutch player for as long as I've been here," said Feltz, a senior. "I always look for him in situations like that.
"When I saw that the ball was going to his head, I knew it was going in."
That's because Mangan (five goals) has the best header shot on the team. But DePaul would not have a 7-5-1 overall record if Feltz hadn't played his best game of the season.
Taking a pass from Steffen Vroom on the right side, Feltz unleashed a shot from 25 feet that curved to the left of Rambler goalkeeper Christian Krueger and into the net during the 33rd minute.
"I actually think the goalie thought the shot was going wide," Feltz said. "Loyola's defense gave me just a little room, and I was able to take advantage of it."
That was the only shot DePaul took in a first half that saw Loyola fire off seven shots. Just 48 seconds after Feltz's second goal of the season, Eric Gehrig scored after DePaul goalie Joe Ferrari punched the ball right at him.
Both Ferrari and Krueger would go on to make one magnificent play after another in the second half and throughout both overtimes.
One ball Ferrari couldn't get was Michael Ferguson's 25-foot shot in the 60th minute that landed in the upper right corner of the net.
Loyola (3-4-4) appeared headed for the victory when Mangan made his heads-up play.
"Give all the credit on that goal to Feltz," Mangan said. "He did a great job setting up and getting the ball to me. I had the easy part."
With :06 left in the first overtime, Loyola's Mark Halma had a header shot seven feet from the Blue Demon net that Ferrari saved with a diving deflection.
There was 40 seconds left in the second overtime when Vroom fed a pass to Mangan for a point-blank shot.
"I got a toe on it and kicked it right at the net," Mangan said. "Loyola's goalie made another great save. That guy (Krueger) had a great game, and so did Ferrari."
DePaul coach Craig Blazer was pleased with the outcome.
"Sure, you always want to win," Blazer said. "But for us to go on the road, fight and claw our way back against a tough team like Loyola---that's just outstanding.
"Both goalies did a great job, and Joe Ferrari did his best in giving us a chance to win."
NOTES: Loyola wound up outshooting DePaul 19-11 as Gehrig got off six shots and Ferguson four... Mangan led the Blue Demons with four shots and Vroom had three... DePaul finished with a flurry, firing off six of its 11 shots in the second overtime... this was a physical match as Loyola was whistled for 26 fouls and DePaul had 20... DePaul is now 2-1-1 in overtime games while Loyola is 1-0-4... Vroom's assist gives him a team-high 14 points on the season, and Mangan's goal puts him second with 11 points... Vroom has a team-high six goals and 14 points while taking just 18 shots... DePaul is back on the road for a noon BIG EAST Conference match Saturday at Villanova.