Parker’s Game-Winning Goal Lifts Blue Demons Past Valpo

Monday, February 22

Valparaiso, Ind.

1:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Valparaiso

1-1-1, 0-0-0

DePaul

Valparaiso

Parker’s Game-Winning Goal Lifts Blue Demons Past Valpo

2/22/2021 4:10:00 PM | WOMEN'S SOCCER

Box Score Box Score

DePaul scores in final minute after Valpo tied the match down the stretch

CROWN POINT, Ind. – DePaul women's soccer won the opening match of the 2020-21 season in thrilling fashion over Valparaiso on Monday afternoon at the Sparta Dome in Crown Point, Ind. Junior defender Sydney Parker scored the game-winning goal in the game's final minute to give the Blue Demons a 2-1 victory.

After a penalty was called in the box, Valpo's Kelsie James executed a penalty kick in the 84th minute to knot the game at one. The Blue Demons responded by pressing forward offensively with time winding down. After freshman Bella Hanisch sent a pass into the interior of the Valpo defense, Parker found the ball at her feet and slotted the game-winner, her first goal of her collegiate career, with just 16 seconds left on the clock.

"I'm super proud of the team's response when they scored on the penalty kick late in the game," said head coach Erin Chastain. "For us to just have the response we did and find a way to score, that was great to see and really something we can build off of moving forward."

The Blue Demons were able to control the ballgame prior to the Valpo penalty kick that tied the match. DePaul limited the Brown and Gold to just three shots prior to the goal, none of which were on target. Meanwhile, the DePaul offense got off 14 total shots and put seven on goal.

Senior forward Morgan Turner got the action started early on offense for the Blue Demons as she scored in the 5th minute off of a feed from freshman forward Beth Smyth. Turner finished the match with four total shots while senior midfielder Jessica Lazo also fired off four attempts at the net.

Turner picked up right where she left off by finding the back of the net right away on Monday afternoon. Turner, a team captain and Preseason All-BIG EAST honoree, led the Blue Demons with 10 goals during the 2019 season. Turner's goal in the season-opener against Valpo was the 20th of her career.

A handful of DePaul freshmen got their first taste of collegiate soccer in the opener. Smyth, Hanisch, Grace Phillpotts and Aubrey Ramey all saw action in the 2-1 win. Hanisch played the match's entire 90 minutes and executed the game-winning assist.

UP NEXT

DePaul will head to Nashville, Tenn. to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at noon CT on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Commodores are ramping up their spring season after competing in the fall and winning the 2020 SEC Tournament. The Blue Demons take on Vanderbilt for the second and final game of the 2020-21 non-conference schedule. DePaul opens BIG EAST play on March 4 against Butler.

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