DePaul University Athletics
Vroom, Mangan Spark Dramatic Comeback Win
10/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CINCINNATI - Steffen Vroom realized it was time for the best player on DePaul's team to do something special.
The ball came to the right side of Gettler Stadium Wednesday night early in the overtime period, and Vroom outraced a Cincinnati defender to gain possession.
He dribbled the Bearcat defense into a tactical retreat, cut sharply to his left at the 18-yard mark and unleashed perhaps the biggest shot of the season in DePaul's dramatic 2-1 comeback victory.
""I knew it was a goal before it got to the net," said Vroom of his team-high fifth goal. "I just started running and my teammates were chasing me. It was kind of like a football game---excitement all over the place."
The Blue Demons were releasing leftover frustration and self-doubt after losing 6-0 to Louisville last Saturday at Wish Field.
"We started to question where this team was going and there were some doubts after the Louisville game," Vroom said. "This was a test of our character."
Cincinnati (7-5-0, 2-4-0 in the BIG EAST) scored just before halftime on a header by Matt Bahner 10 yards in front of the Blue Demon net.
"The looks on everyone's faces, we were all down," Vroom said. "We regrouped at halftime and Andre Gutierrez helped pick up our spirits."
Alex Mangan entered the match at the 53-minute, 11-second mark and needed just over two minutes to pump new life into his team.
Mangan took advantage of Cincinnati's failure to clear the ball out of its zone and fired a shot into the net at the far post for his fourth goal of the season.
"Alex is an emotional player, and he was depressed about being taken out of the starting lineup," Vroom said. "But he is not going to feel sorry for himself. He decided to help the team by coming off the bench and making an impact right away.
"From that point on, we had hope."
DePaul coach Craig Blazer made some changes in his back line after the Louisville loss, combining Patrick Hopkins with Nathan Feltz, John Jandl and Scott Freundlich. It helped DePaul improve to 6-5-0, 3-3-0 in the BIG EAST.
"Those back four guys did a great job, and some of the saves our goalkeeper Joe Ferrari made were incredible," Blazer said.
"Vroom's goal---it was a classic. It was an unbelievable individual effort, and what a fantastic finish. We know this is what Steffen Vroom is capable of doing."
Vroom declined the label as the Blue Demons' best.
"I don't think I'm the best player on this team because we have a bunch of guys like that," Vroom said. "Antonio Aguilar scored the tying and winning goals in our win over Marquette. Mangan has scored some huge goals this season, and Mark Plotkin has come up big all year.
"The way we came back and won this game tonight after what happened against Louisville, you can tell this team has a lot of heart."
NOTES: After being outshot by Cincinnati 9-4 in the first half, DePaul took control and outshot the Bearcats 10-3 in the second half and overtime... Vroom led the way with three shots including two on goal... Mangan and Aguilar also had three shots each... after being knocked around by a physical Louisville team, the Blue Demons weren't going to let that happen again... their physical play resulted in yellow cards for Mangan and Aguilar and one for the team... two yellow cards were issued to Cincinnati players... Vroom leads the team in goals with five and points with 11... Mangan, Vroom's best friend, is second on the team with four goals... Mangan and Aguilar are tied for second in points with eight... DePaul faces Rutgers at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wish Field.