DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
UIC
DePaul Eyes Fourth-Straight Win
9/14/2021 1:14:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER
Blue Demons host UIC on Wednesday afternoon
CHICAGO - DePaul men's soccer hosts UIC on Wednesday at Wish Field for a 1 p.m. kick off. The Blue Demons (3-1) are winners of three-straight matches and enter Wednesday's match after topping the Bradley Braves last Friday, 2-1.
The Flames and Blue Demons square off for the first time since the 2019 season. In the last meeting between the sides, UIC cruised to a 4-1 on its home turf. The Flames have managed to win three straight matches versus the Blue Demons.
STREAK STATS
DePaul's three-match winning streak is the longest win streak for the Blue Demons since the 2009 when the Blue Demons rattled off three-straight versus Northwestern, UC Irvine and Buffalo. The last time the Blue Demons won four straight was in 2007 to begin the season.
BIG WIN OVER BRADLEY
DePaul claimed its first win over Bradley since 1990 in Peoria, Ill. last Friday. Goals by Marek Gonda and Jack Richards sent the Blue Demons to a 2-1 that included a strong defensive performance by the DePaul backline led by Matty Brickman.
BOLSTERED BY BRICKMAN
Brickman earned BIG EAST honor roll recognition for his performance versus the Braves. Brickman and the Blue Demon defense limited Bradley to a single goal that came on a late penalty opportunity. Brickman is the second-consecutive Blue Demon to earn honor roll status after Gandhi Cruz was recognized after a six-save shutout versus Wisconsin on Sunday, Sept. 5. Brickman, a senior captain, has helped anchor the Blue Demon defensive unit throughout the team's three-game win streak.
CRUZ SHINES IN NET
Sophomore goalkeeper Gandhi Cruz has made back-to-back six-save performances and has been making key save after key save during the Blue Demons' three-game win streak. After earning BIG EAST honor roll recognition after the shutout versus Wisconsin, Cruz helped the Blue Demons shut down Bradley. With a 2-0 lead and time winding down, Cruz stopped a penalty kick attempt to keep the Blue Demon lead padded. Minutes later, the Braves were awarded another attempt which was buried. Overall, DePaul has allowed only one traditional goal over the last three matches.
OFFENSIVE ATTACK
Jack Richards and Marek Gonda have led the offensive efforts for DePaul in the early going. Richards scored in the season opener versus Loyola and notched the game-winning goal in DePaul's victory versus Wisconsin, and scored to get the Blue Demons on the board versus Bradley. Meanwhile, Gonda scored twice in the Blue Demons' win versus St. Thomas and also extended the lead at Bradley in the Blue Demons' 2-1 victory. Gonda and Richards lead the squad with three goals apiece. DePaul's Santiago Rodriguez tallied DePaul's other strike, a go-ahead goal versus St. Thomas on Sept. 2.
UIC NOTES
- UIC holds a 1-2-2 record this fall after dropping its Horizon League opener at Milwaukee, 2-1.
- Flames head coach Sean Phillips is in his 12th year at the helm of the UIC program.
- UIC have won three straight in the all-time matchup versus the Blue Demons.
- The last three matchups between the sides at Wish Field have been shutout wins: two for UIC and one for DePaul.
For all of the latest on DePaul Men's Soccer, stay tuned to depaulbluedemons.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
