DePaul University Athletics
Men's Soccer on Track to Building a Winning Program
6/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO -- DePaul men's soccer saw quite a bit of progress during its recently completed spring exhibition season.
Aside from going 3-1-2 against local competition, the Blue Demons continued the process of building a winning program.
"During our winter and spring training, we've seen improvement with changing the culture of the program," said DePaul coach Craig Blazer. "The working relationship between the coaches and players is good, and the group really responded to our first game against Northwestern in March."
That was the 2-1 match at PrivateBank Fire Pitch---the Chicago Fire's indoor facility---where Erik Rodriguez scored off a Simon Megally assist and Megally tallied the game-winner on a timely feed from Hans Wustling who made the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team last season.
After spring break, DePaul tied Olivet Nazarene 3-3 with two goals by Rodriguez and one by Megally. After falling 2-0 to Loyola in the Chicago Cup tournament opener, the Blue Demons rebounded with a 2-1 victory over Illinois-Chicago in the consolation game on a pair of Megally scores.
DePaul finished out the spring season with a 1-1 tie against Lewis (Rodriguez goal) and a 1-0 win over University of Chicago on Philipp Koenigstein's shot into the back of the net.
Megally finished the spring with four goals and two assists for 10 points while Rodriguez had four goals. Koenigstein had a goal and an assist while Wustling and Caleb Pothast each had a pair of helpers.
"We had some good performances throughout the spring, and it was a very significant process for us," Blazer said. "It reinforced our culture and style of play along with the cohesiveness of the team.
"Our players were focused on knowing how to defend and attack, who we are as a team and what we need to improve upon."
Helping with that process is the addition of volunteer coach Gonzalo Segares who played with the Chicago Fire from 2005 to 2009 and from 2010-14. He was named Chicago Fire Defender of the Year in 2007.
Segares is an assistant coach who helped guide the Chicago Fire Academy U-17/18 team to the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy national championship with a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake-Arizona at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center in Carson, Calif.
As a player, Segares helped lead the Fire to an MLS club-record fourth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in 2006. The Costa Rican defender participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying and the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, leading Costa Rica to the semifinals.
Segares announced his retirement last February and is an academy coach and club ambassador with the Fire.
"We have so many great resources at DePaul, and we're very excited to be the beneficiary of tapping into our relationship with assistant coach Craig Reynolds and the Fire," Blazer said. "Coach Reynolds was an assistant coach with the Fire and worked with Gonzalo. And now, Gonzalo is reunited with coach Reynolds on our staff.
"Gonzalo has done it all as a player including 10 seasons with the Fire and playing on the Costa Rica national team. His experience and knowledge will be a big benefit to our players."
