DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Green Bay
No Headline
10/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
Oct. 5, 2011
Blue Tube - Highlights
CHICAGO - A sure sign that these young Blue Demons are coming of age is watching freshman defender Curtis Weir hollering at the team's best player.
"I like that he is taking the initiative to yell at me," said Antonio Aguilar after his two goals led DePaul to a 3-1 victory over Green Bay Wednesday at Wish Field.
"He is playing behind me, and I want him telling me where to go. All these freshmen and sophomores like David Selvaggi, Kyle Gustafson, Anthony Hunter, Zach Forbes, Eric Sorby, Brian Lunar, Michael Stankiewicz, Curtis and Thiago Ganancio are coming through big-time for us.
"After playing together for a while now, we are all starting to connect and getting to know each other's moves on the field."
DePaul (4-6-1) has won three of its last four matches with the lone loss coming at No. 13/19 Georgetown.
The Blue Demons have scored nine goals in those three wins.
"It seems like when we score first, we come away with a result," said Aguilar, who launched 10 shots against the Phoenix with an impressive seven shots on goal.
You could call this the "Tony & Thiago" show as Ganancio opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with a put-back after his partner Aguilar fired a shot that was deflected by Green Bay goalkeeper Travis Meikle before turning into an assist.
This was the third time this "TNT" combination has scored in the same game. They both scored previously against Oakland and Northwestern.
Green Bay (4-5-1) tied it in the 53rd minute on a free kick just outside the box by Tony Walls.
When Ganancio was fouled in the box in the 61st minute, Aguilar stepped up and unleashed a penalty kick that Meikle deflected---right back to Aguilar.
"When he made the save, I was really upset," Aguilar said. "Luckily, it landed at my feet. I just reacted right away and tapped the ball into the right side."
Aguilar would add the insurance goal onto the game-winner in the 77th minute.
"Goose (Gustafson) played me a great ball, and I re-directed it to the far post," Aguilar said about the header for his sixth goal of the season.
DePaul coach Craig Blazer was pleased with the result, but remained low-key.
"We played well, and we're looking to keep the momentum going into Saturday's BIG EAST Conference game at Villanova," Blazer said.
The recent four-game stretch has boosted the confidence of these young Blue Demons who started five freshmen and four sophomores on Wednesday.
"This feels great," Aguilar said. "We've won three games and had a strong second half against Georgetown. As coach Blazer always tells us, when we play our game, we can compete with anyone in the country.
"We have built some momentum, and hopefully we can carry it over to Villanova."
NOTES: Both times Aguilar has been awarded penalty kicks, it was Ganancio's runs in the box that drew the calls... Aguilar scored twice in a game for the second time this season... this was a crowd-pleasing match as DePaul took 21 shots and Green Bay retaliated with 15 shots... the Blue Demons had 10 shots on goal to seven for the Phoenix... DePaul doubled up Green Bay in corner kicks, 6-3... after Aguilar's 10 shots, Ganancio had four shots while Forbes, Selvaggi and David Leverentz each had two shots... Matt Leinauer took one shot... in addition to Aguilar's seven shots on goal, Ganancio had two and Selvaggi one... Aguilar came away with five points, including the assist on Ganancio's goal... on the season, Aguilar leads the Blue Demons with six goals and three assists for 15 points... Selvaggi has five goals for 10 points... Ganancio has three goals and two assists for eight points... Gustafson has a goal and an assist... DePaul improved to 4-2-0 at Wish Field.
