Fuderer Scores Twice, DePaul Battles to 2-2 Draw

Wednesday, February 17

Rockford, Ill.

11:00 A.M. CT

DePaul University

0-0-1, 0-0-0

Northern Illinois

0-2-1, 0-0-0

DePaul

Northern Illinois

Fuderer Scores Twice, DePaul Battles to 2-2 Draw

2/17/2021 2:33:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER

Box Score Final Statistics

Match ends in draw after DePaul goal is disallowed in overtime

ROCKFORD, Ill. – Junior forward Jake Fuderer found the back of the net twice as DePaul battled to a 2-2 draw in the 2020-21 season opener against Northern Illinois in Rockford, Ill. Fuderer scored a pair of unanswered second-half goals before Northern Illinois sent the game to overtime with a late goal at the end of regulation. In extra time, Fuderer appeared to score a game-winning goal, his third of the day, but the score was disallowed after a lengthy discussion by the officials.

"Our group showed a tremendous amount of maturity and resiliency today," said head coach Mark Plotkin. "I've never seen anything like it in college soccer and I'm just proud of the way our team handled the situation."

DePaul held a 2-1 lead as the second half progressed but a late surge by the Huskies led to an equalizing goal in the 89th minute which sent the game to overtime. In the first extra period, Fuderer appeared to score a game-winning goal and notch his first-career hat trick. However, after discussion by the officials, it was ruled that a Huskies player was injured and down on the field before the ball entered the net.

"Coming back from conceding a late goal then to have the overtime winner called back and being told to come back on the field to play, it takes great character to respond positively and see the result out," said Plotkin. "There were some great moments today and some things we need to tighten up, but it's great to be playing games again."

Both defensive units worked to keep the contest scoreless through the game's first 45 minutes. Redshirt senior Goalkeeper Drew Nuelle fended off three Husky shots on goal in the first half. Nuelle made a diving save on a low shot with just over three minutes left in the half to spoil a Northern Illinois scoring chance.

Northern Illinois got on the board first with a goal that came in the 55th minute but Fuderer was lining up a penalty shot just five minutes later. Fuderer's equalizer was slotted to the bottom left corner, past a diving goalkeeper. Four minutes after the score became locked at one, the ball found Fuderer inside the box on the left wing. Fuderer captialzied and scored again, this time off of assists by David Gripman and Jack Richards. Fuderer tallied his first two-goal game and picked up where he left off during the fall of 2019, the Glenview, Ill. native totaled a team-high four goals during the 2019 season.

In overtime, Nuelle and the defensive unit fought off Northern Illinois scoring chances and both teams were held scoreless up to the final whistle. Nuelle finished with six saves.

Freshmen Marek Gonda and Omar Ramadan made their first collegiate starts while Jacob Huth and Santiago Rodriguez entered off the bench for their first appearances as Blue Demons. Syracuse transfer Michael Lantry also got a starting nod in the matchup.

UP NEXT

DePaul will play as the home team in a matchup against the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers in Rockford on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 7pm CT. Plotkin officially announced the game earlier this morning. Loyola-Chicago currently holds a 1-1 record through a pair of matches this season. The Ramblers dropped a match to Marquette in extra time before shutting out Northern Illinois in a 2-0 victory on Feb. 14.

For all of the latest on DePaul Men's Soccer, stay tuned to depaulbluedemons.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.