DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Fired Up for Toyota Park
8/31/2011 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
Aug. 31, 2011
CHICAGO - Matt Leinauer has been waiting his entire soccer career for a moment like this.
Leinauer and the Blue Demons will take the field at 5 p.m. Thursday to face Illinois-Chicago at Toyota Park---home of the Chicago Fire.
"This is going to be really exciting," Leinauer said. "It will be my first time playing on a professional soccer field.
"I've always thought about what it would be like. Watching the Fire play on TV, you wonder what the grass is like and how it's going to feel playing a game at Toyota Park."
Leinauer and his teammates realize the Fire's home field is much larger than Wish Field.
"A big field should be to our advantage with the way we like to play," Leinauer said. "There will be more room to create more one-on-one chances, and that will be fun."
It's still very early, but so far, DePaul is thriving on its new, more aggressive style of play.
That was evident in a season-opening, 3-1 victory over 2010 NCAA tournament qualifier Oakland last Saturday at Wish Field.
The victory vaulted DePaul to the No. 10 ranking in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Regional Rankings.
"This new style of play gives us a better chance to win," Leinauer said about the high-press, more direct offense installed by DePaul coach Craig Blazer. "Everyone is more aggressive, and we are all involved in it.
"I play defense, and it is fun to watch Tony (Antonio Aguilar) and all the guys putting pressure on the other end. It's way more exciting than the defensive, possession style we played last year.
"Kids just naturally want to play an attacking style. There is a new feel to our team."
Aguilar christened the debut of the new offense with two goals and an assist against the Golden Grizzlies while freshman Thiago Ganancio scored the other goal.
Aguilar was named BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week and was selected for the Soccer America national men's Team of the Week after that performance.
"We told the guys not to get too high or too low, and to try and maintain an even keel," Blazer said. "We reviewed the game film and saw things we need to work on.
"We're fired up to play UIC at Toyota Park. It's going to be an exciting event, and I'd like to thank the Chicago Fire for participating in promoting the game of college soccer in Chicago."
After DePaul and UIC tangle in the opener of this double-header, Northwestern takes on No. 7/12 California at 7 p.m.
UIC comes to the southwest suburb of Bridgeview having topped Marquette 2-1 last Saturday in its season opener. Ned Pavlovic and Joe Radice scored the goals for a Flames team that returns six starters from last year's 7-11-0 ballclub.
The top returnee is senior forward Eric Frazier who had six goals and 16 points last season and led UIC with 20 shots on goal.
"This is going to be a very hard match," Blazer said. "The UIC program has a lot of athleticism.
"One of our players' goals this season is to be the premier college soccer team in Chicago, and this is our first challenge."
Blue Demon Quick Kicks
• A youth movement at DePaul had the Blue Demons starting five freshmen in the victory over Oakland at Wish Field.
• Among the freshmen, forward David Selvaggi launched five shots and midfielder Thiago Ganancio fired off three shots. Those accounted for eight of the team's 13 shots.
• Aguilar has taken three shots, and all three have been on goal. Seniors Leinauer and John Jandl have each taken one shot.
• The win over Oakland snapped a three-year losing streak in season openers.
• DePaul and UIC have not played since the 2006 season when the two teams battled to a scoreless, double-overtime tie at Illinois-Chicago.
• After the UIC game, the Blue Demons will face Missouri Valley Conference tournament runner-up Southern Illinois-Edwardsville at 4 p.m. on Sunday and then confront No. 6/5 Creighton on Sept. 11. Both matches will be played at Wish Field.
• In addition to UIC, DePaul also has Loyola-Chicago (Sept.14) and Northwestern (Sept. 28) on its schedule.
