DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Drake
Scrappy Pagone and High-Flying Hemming Lead DePaul Past Drake
9/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
Sept. 12, 2010
CHICAGO - Lauren Pagone and Callie Hemming came up big Sunday in the first athletic contest ever played in the new Wish Field at Cacciatore Stadium.
Each scored a goal unique to her soccer style in DePaul's 2-0 victory over a resurgent Drake program that was off to its best start in school history.
Banging bodies and clawing for position, Pagone fought her way to a header goal off a textbook cross from Tara Strickland in the 10th minute.
"It was outstanding the way Lauren did such a great job of getting on the end of a great serve from Tara," said De Paul coach Erin Chastain. "It was just pure grittiness in the box."
It was the kind of down-and-dirty, blue-collar work in the trenches that has endeared Pagone to her teammates and practically screamed out for a nickname.
How about "Scrapper" Pagone?
"Scrapper---that's perfect for Lauren," Hemming said. "She does all the little things you need on the field.
"She is really scrappy and a fighter. Lauren's a good person to have on your side."
So is Hemming, who tallied the insurance goal in the 63rd minute by out-leaping a Drake defender for a header score off a Rebekah Roller corner kick.
"Callie really does well in the air, and she showed her vertical leap on that one," Chastain said.
Hemming's nickname is a no-brainer.
"Scrapper," meet "Air Callie."
"It's not so much how high you jump," Hemming said. "It's more about how you time it. It takes a while to get it down, and I'm doing it in my senior year.
"On that goal, they weren't marking me very tightly. I like to have my own space to do what I want with it. The corner kick was near post, and I was able to get my head on it.
"That was the kind of play Michelle Scandora excelled at last year. But with her being out with an injury, I really want to make an impact in every game."
Pagone and Hemming are off to fast starts with a team-leading three goals each for DePaul (4-2-2). Just eight games in, Pagone has already equaled her scoring output from last season and Hemming has topped the two she scored a year ago.
"Just before that goal, I was watching Tara because she's been so consistent with setting us up for shots," said Pagone of her second game-winner of the season. "I just started fighting to get in front of the Drake defender and tried to get any little piece of my body on it."
After the heads-up plays by Pagone and Hemming, DePaul's defense took over.
Goalkeepers Claire Hanold and Kelsey Hoinkes and a back line led by Casey Mercurio, Rebekah Roller, Kylie Nordness and Beth Perry limited Drake (3-2-2) to four shots with three on goal.
"Both goalkeepers and our defenders did a nice job of limiting Drake's scoring chances," Chastain said. "We wound up getting back-to-back shutouts this weekend (0-0 tie with Missouri on Friday)."
The Blue Demons will need to have every phase of their game in an overachieving mode this coming Friday when Notre Dame comes to town. The Fighting Irish are ranked No. 3 in the nation in the coaches' association poll and are No. 4 according to Soccer America.
NOTES: The assist gave Strickland 13 for her career, moving the senior midfielder into third place all-time... she is two behind Jennifer Dyer for second place... Strickland now has 37 career points, tying her for fifth all-time with Christy Young... Dyer (fourth with 39 points), Lea Hill (third with 40 points) and Lauren Spacht (second with 41 points) are all within reach... Julianne Sitch (32 goals, 26 assists, 90 points) is the all-time leader in all three categories... DePaul outshot Drake 11-6 and had six shots on goal to three for the Bulldogs... Pagone and Arianna Foster each took three shots to lead the Blue Demons, and both had two shots on goal... DePaul also had a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks... Chastain used 20 players on Sunday, including backup goalie Kelsey Hoinkes... this was Hoinkes' first action since the 2008 season... this was Hanold's fourth shutout of the season and the 13th in her career... joining their peers in the student section and cheering on the Blue Demons were men's basketball players Eric Wallace and Tony Freeland... Hemming tops DePaul with eight points followed by Pagone (six), Strickland (four), Kelly Blumberg and Roller (three each)... Strickland has taken a team-high 20 shots followed by Morgan Celaya with 15, Pagone with 12, Foster with eight and Hemming with six... Pagone leads the team with eight shots on goal while Strickland has six and Foster and Celaya four apiece.
