DePaul University Athletics
Big Showdown Thursday Night at Marquette
11/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
DePaul at Marquette | 7 PM Thursday | Valley Fields
| BIG EAST Digital Network
CHICAGO - DePaul's drive to the BIG EAST postseason comes down to four simple words Thursday night at Marquette.
Win---and you're in.
A victory at Valley Fields in front of BIG EAST Digital Network TV cameras will clinch a berth in the BIG EAST Championship. Another way to ensure a playoff spot is for Georgetown to lose Thursday night at No. 24 Creighton.
But the Blue Demons would prefer to take matters into their own hands. They have won four of their last five conference matches in compiling a 9-6-2 overall record and 4-4-0 in the BIG EAST.
Their late-season surge is reminiscent of 2015 when coach Craig Blazer's side overcame a 1-10 start and qualified for the BIG EAST Championship. Last week, DePaul upset No. 15 Butler 1-0 in double-overtime on Zach El-Shafei's golden goal with five seconds left.
Three days later, the Blue Demons went on the road and knocked off St. John's 1-0 in overtime on Stijn van der Slot's golden goal.
Marquette (4-7-4, 1-5-2) will be looking to play the role of spoiler in both teams' regular-season finale. The Golden Eagles have outscored opponents 25-23 and hold a 72-64 edge in points.
Freshman midfielder Luke Prpa heads the Marquette attack with nine goals and six assists while Connor Alba has four goals and two assists.
Notes
- Quentin Low was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week after posting back-to-back shutouts of No. 15 Butler and St. John's.
- John Freitag was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, Low Goalkeeper of the Week and Zach El-Shafei Freshman of the Week.
- The Blue Demons have outscored opponents 28-20 with a 32-20 edge in assists and 88-84 in shots on goal.
- DePaul is No. 16 in the country in assists, No. 24 in assists per game, No. 30 in points and No. 38 in goals.
- Low is No. 24 in the nation in goalkeeper minutes while Erik Rodriguez is No. 36 in game-winning goals. The Blue Demons are second in the conference in assists per game, total assists, and points and third in goals.
- Rodriguez and Simon Megally each have a season-high seven goals and lead the team.
- Junior Hans Wustling is No. 6 all-time in career assists with 16, six behind all-time leader Klaus Lunde (1992-95).
