DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Villanova
Blue Demons Fall Sunday in BIG EAST Playoff Shootout
11/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
VILLANOVA, Pa. - When Quentin Low made a brilliant save on the first shot of Sunday's dramatic shootout, this BIG EAST playoff game was looking good for DePaul.
But Villanova recovered to emerge with a 3-1 result at the Higgins Soccer Complex that was officially recorded as a 0-0 tie in double overtime.
Villanova (10-6-3) advances to the BIG EAST Championship Semifinals Thursday at Butler.
Low had been at his best the first 110 minutes, making six saves and standing tall along with defenders Max de Bruijne, Caleb Pothast, John Freitag, Hans Wustling and Sasa Labovic.
Together they kept the zero in the face of Villanova' s 23-shot attack.
The biggest "if-only" moments for DePaul (9-7-3) came in the 83rd minute on back-to-back plays that would have nullified any need for a shootout.
Jake Scheper made a run to the far post and Simon Megally aimed a cross right at him. Scheper's header bounced off the post.
Soon after, Kevin Beyer launched a shot from just outside the box that hit the crossbar.
It was scoreless at halftime as Low made three clutch saves to keep the zero.
Notes
- Villanova outshot DePaul 23-14, extending its home winning streak to seven.
- The Wildcats came away with a 6-2 edge in shots on goal and 13-5 in corner kicks.
- Megally led the Blue Demons with six shots and one on goal while Freitag had the other shot on frame.
- This was DePaul's ninth appearance in the BIG EAST playoffs since joining the conference in 2005.
- The Blue Demons have an overall record of 2-6-3 in the league tournament.
- Junior Wustling finishes the season No. 6 all-time in career assists with 16, six behind all-time leader Klaus Lunde (1992-95).
- The Blue Demons outscored opponents 28-21 this season with a 32-20 edge in assists.
- Erik Rodriguez finished among the nation's leaders in game-winning goals. His seven goals overall this season are a career high.
- Megally's seven scores this season are also a career high.
