DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Faces Marquette with Playoff Berth at Stake
11/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
Marquette at DePaul | 1 PM Thursday | Wish Field
BIG EAST Digital Network |
DePaul Notes
CHICAGO -- As competitive student-athletes, Jalen Harvey and Mack Robinson could not ask for a better storyline to accompany the final soccer match of their careers at Wish Field.
The senior duo will lead DePaul into a showdown with rival Marquette at 1 p.m. Thursday, and a win clinches a berth in the BIG EAST Championship playoffs. A loss or a tie would necessitate help from other conference teams to qualify.
There's nothing Harvey and Robinson would like more than to celebrate their careers at Thursday's postgame Senior Day ceremony with the Blue Demons' first appearance in the conference tournament since 2011.
What made all this possible and catapulted DePaul (4-12-1, 3-4-1) into the thick of the BIG EAST playoff race was a recent stretch in which the Blue Demons went 3-1-1 in the league. The only setback was 1-0 to No. 9/9 Georgetown.
"After a rough nonconference season and being unlucky in some of those losses, there's a feeling among the guys that things are finally going our way," said goalkeeper Robinson. "We've started to make our own luck.
"There are no excuses, and we put everything into each game. If we keep working like we have all season and play our style of soccer, it will put us in the best position to make the BIG EAST tournament.
"We had a meeting after the Northwestern game that we lost on an own goal and said there are no excuses. Losing games like this isn't going to cut it. We were tired of losing and vowed we weren't going to lose anymore. We know we can beat these teams. As seniors, Jalen and I tried to motivate everyone to play up to their potential."
Harvey has noticed the difference.
"Since then, we have a feeling like we're going to win every time we step on the field," said Harvey who spent most of the season in the back line and has recently been moved to the midfield. "We aren't going to settle for less, and it comes down to belief. We've been gaining confidence and hoping that other teams in the BIG EAST are noticing and giving respect to DePaul soccer."
The Blue Demons have struggled the last three seasons.
"This program had been down the last several years, and it took a while mentally to get things going in the right direction," Robinson said. "During our recent stretch, we've realized we could do it and this was the spark we needed. The guys now know we are going to do it."
Throughout the BIG EAST Digital Network broadcast of DePaul's 1-0 loss at No. 1 Creighton in early October, the announcers commented a number of times that the Blue Demons were much better than their record.
"Opposing players are noticing the difference," Robinson said. "Afterwards, they tell us we played a good game and that they will be seeing us at the BIG EAST tournament. Our response is: `We'll see you there.'"
"It felt good to be appreciated even when the result was not too good," Harvey added. "We're fighting to keep this going and are not going to stop anytime soon."
Something about this team enabled these guys to persevere and never give up during the 1-8-0 nonconference season.
"During the tough times, you could see the players and coaching staff all have a lot of pride and were not going to let anyone think we're not a very good team," Harvey said. "Giving up is not in our DNA.
"Each time we got knocked down, we got back up ready to fight again. Our pride and stubborn attitude allowed us to get in the middle of the BIG EAST race."
That stubborn attitude will come in handy against Marquette (5-9-2, 1-6-1) which has been eliminated from the playoff picture. The Golden Eagles will look to play the spoiler role behind Kelmend Islami (eight goals), C. Nortey (four goals) and David Selvaggi (four goals).
Harvey would like nothing better than to duplicate the best game of his four-year career when he recorded a hat trick in a memorable 3-2, comeback victory over Drake his junior season.
"That was an unbelievable feeling for me," recalled Harvey who singlehandedly erased a 2-0 deficit. "I'm more of a defensive player, so to do that and help my team win 3-2 was amazing.
"I was ticked off that I didn't start like a lot of guys would've been. Once I got my chance, I wanted to prove a point. That first goal, Hans Wustling sent a perfect cross. All I had to do was connect on it and put it in. I just didn't want to hit it too high."
After that, Harvey was bent on finding the equalizer---and it came in the 87th minute.
"Simon Megally gave me a good flick," Harvey said. "I got the ball with two Drake guys defending. They kicked it away, but it came back to me. It was pretty lucky, but I guess it was meant to be."
Early in overtime, Harvey took off on an apparent breakaway with only the goalkeeper to beat. But a late run by a Bulldog defender disrupted a golden opportunity.
"I thought that was going to ruin my day," Harvey said.
But in the 98th minute, Megally and Erik Rodriguez made their patented midfielders' connection with Rodriguez setting up Harvey at point-blank range.
"As I headed into the box, I felt like I was on fire already," Harvey said. "I saw an opening, and Erik put it exactly where I wanted it.
"The most I ever scored in college was two goals in a season. But this isn't just about scoring. It's more about the team staying together, coming back and getting the win. It was the whole team building towards those goals. The easiest part was being on the end of each one."
Robinson transferred into DePaul after spending his first two seasons playing at Ohio Dominican.
"I came here because of the highly competitive level of soccer and the academics, and I love the school," Robinson said. "I took a really good path by coming here. Making the adjustment wasn't hard because everyone made me feel so welcome.
"Joining a highly competitive team playing in one of the best soccer conferences in the country and being supported by talented teammates and coaches has helped me grow as a person. I'm grateful for the opportunity to come in and make a difference on coach Craig Blazer's team. I will thank him until the day I die for that.
"There hasn't been a day when he didn't challenge me to get better. I'm in a much better place, and I'll never forget what coach and DePaul did for me for the rest of my life."
Harvey also wanted to express his gratitude.
"What I've learned these last four years is how to control my body and take advantage of what I'm good at physically," said Harvey who also plays on the Bermuda national team. "Over the last four years, coach Blazer has not stopped challenging me to become better and I appreciate that. I don't think I could play for a coach that didn't challenge me and get the best out of me.
"There were times when he intentionally got me mad to get the best out of me. I have to thank him that he has that belief in me."
No matter when this season ends, Blazer knows he will miss his two seniors.
"It's been a pleasure to work with Mack who has been an outstanding leader by example," Blazer said. "He is very self-driven and motivated. He always wanted to get to that next level and came to DePaul to compete in the BIG EAST. His progress has been outstanding.
"Jalen continues to show a tremendous amount of maturity in the process of improving every day. He has managed the challenge of being a successful defender as our team has evolved and developed. He is embracing his new role of moving up to the midfield. His performance in our double-overtime tie at Providence was among the best games of his career.
"Mack and Jalen helped change the competitive fighting mentality of our program that's necessary to be successful in the BIG EAST. They've embodied the challenge of getting better every day."
