DePaul University Athletics
Providence Next Hurdle in Run to the BIG EAST Playoffs
10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
Providence at DePaul | 1 PM Saturday | Wish Field
| Live Stream
CHICAGO - Buoyed by back-to-back conference wins, these Blue Demons are ready to resume their late-season run to a BIG EAST playoff berth.
Erik Rodriguez made sure DePaul recovered from a 0-3 BIG EAST start by scoring the team's last three goals in victories over Seton Hall and Georgetown.
That boosted coach Craig Blazer's side to seventh place, one point in the standings shy of the sixth and final postseason spot.
With only four games left, Saturday's 1 p.m. showdown with Providence (8-5-0, 3-2-0) at Wish Field becomes all the more critical for DePaul (7-5-2, 2-3-0).
The Friars come to Lincoln Park riding a four-game winning streak that includes results over Xavier, Villanova and Seton Hall. They have outscored opponents 15-11, outpointed them 41-31 and hold a 75-63 advantage in shots on goal.
Julian Gressel leads Providence with eight goals and three assists. Danny Griffin is scoring option No. 2 with four goals. Goalkeeper Colin Miller has a 0.28 goals-against average with seven shutouts.
Notes
- Kevin Beyer, Danny Lojek, Ryan Martire, Simon Megally and Rodriguez will be honored Saturday in a pregame Senior Day ceremony.
- DePaul is No. 8 in the country in assists, No. 15 in points and No. 21 in goals.
- Rodriguez is No. 20 in the nation in game-winning goals while Quentin Low is No. 22 in goalkeeper minutes.
- The Blue Demons lead the BIG EAST in assists and are second in goals and points.
- Low tops the conference in goalkeeper minutes while Rodriguez is second in game-winning goals.
- Rodriguez's seventh goal is a career high and leads the team. Megally is second with six.
- Junior Hans Wustling is No. 6 all-time in career assists with 16, six behind all-time leader Klaus Lunde (1992-95).
