DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Fordham
Rodriguez, Megally Lead Blue Demons Past Fordham 4-0
9/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
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CHICAGO - After not scoring in the first three games of the season, it was goals galore for the Blue Demons on a hot and muggy Sunday afternoon at Wish Field.
DePaul's attack was never more potent during a 4-0 victory over Fordham for its first successful result of the season.
Erik Rodriguez scored two goals and Simon Megally one in an 11-minute span in the first half. Megally closed out the scoring in the 72nd minute with an assist from Rodriguez.
"It was a tough three-game stretch," Rodriguez said about opening the season with road losses to Elon, Duke and Bradley. "We were excited to play our first game at home.
"We saw their defensive formation with three defenders and two defensive midfielders. That gave us a lot of space and enabled us to turn. Our forwards Simon, Jake Scheper and I were able to shoot."
Rodriguez scored DePaul's first goal of the season in the 18th minute on a pretty give-and-go with Scheper.
"I saw Jake was open and got him the ball," Rodriguez said. "I made a run at the defense and he sent me a perfect ball that I slotted in."
In the 23rd minute, Megally found himself all alone from 23 yards out and fired a shot into the Fordham net for his first goal of the season.
"I said in a team meeting that we had scored six goals in the preseason and that the belief was there," Megally said. "I knew once we got one, the floodgates would open. We just had to get past that first goal."
Rodriguez made it 3-0 in the 29th minute on a rebound.
"Jake made a good run and I played it to him," Rodriguez said. "Their goalkeeper stopped Jake's shot, but the rebound came to me and I chipped it in."
Megally's second goal was shot into the lower left of the Rams' net after a nice feed from Rodriguez as Fordham dropped to 0-3-0.
"It was encouraging to see their response after the first three games," said DePaul coach Craig Blazer. "We needed to play this way offensively, defensively and in transition.
"I was also pleased with the defense for keeping the zero. All of the guys are buying into what we are doing."
This is exactly what DePaul (1-3-0) needed after back-to-back 1-0 losses. The Blue Demons will look to maintain the momentum next Sunday against Nebraska-Omaha at Wish Field.
NOTES: It was a successful opening of a three-game home stand as DePaul will face Illinois-Chicago after next week's matchup versus Nebraska-Omaha... on Sunday, DePaul outshot Fordham 10-4 and held a commanding 7-2 advantage in shots on goal... Megally and Rodriguez each had two shots on goal... Hans Wustling, Ryan Martire and Philipp Koenigstein each had one shot on frame... the offensive outburst allowed Blazer to rest some of his starters as seven Blue Demon reserves saw action against Fordham... Adham Ouda made his collegiate debut coming off the bench on Sunday... starting goalkeeper Quentin Low was replaced by Mack Robinson in the 69th minute.
