DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Connecticut
Gonda Nets Game-Winner in Conference Opener
9/25/2021 4:27:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER
Gonda's goal and stout DePaul defense the difference at Wish
CHICAGO - DePaul men's soccer rallied for a 2-1 win over Connecticut in the BIG EAST opener on Saturday afternoon at Wish Field. Blue Demon forward Marek Gonda buried a 79th minute goal to put the Blue Demons in front for good.
"It was a great result for our guys," said head coach Mark Plotkin. "There's always excitement going into the first conference game and I thought our team managed it very well."
In the first matchup versus UConn (4-3-0, 0-2 BIG EAST) since 2011, DePaul (5-2, 1-0 BIG EAST) assembled offensive chances on the outside early. In just the seventh minute, Gonda played Kristian Malinich forward on the wing. Malinich turned and crossed the ball towards the back post where Nathaniel Enriquez executed a header that found the back of the net. Enriquez's goal gave the Blue Demons an early 1-0 lead and was the first of his collegiate career.
As the first half progressed, the Huskies found their presence in the offensive end. In the 31st minute, UConn was able to equalize on a Guillaume Vactor after finding the ball towards the top of the box. Vactor's shot from traffic found its way past Gandhi Cruz and the match was tied at one with less than 15 minutes remaining in the first half.
To open the second, both teams fought to gain an edge during back and forth play. Cruz made three saves in the first 20 minutes of the second half to keep the Huskies off of the board. While UConn tried to find finishing chances on the attack, the Blue Demons picked opportunities to counter and put the pressure on the UConn back end.
With just over ten minutes remaining, DePaul broke through. In the 79th minute, Omar Ramadan streaked down the wing and sent in a low cross towards Charlie Clancy. Clancy was able to get off an off-balance shot that deflected off of the goalpost and back towards the front of the goal. Gonda was there to clean up the chance, knocking home the go-ahead goal to put DePaul on top 2-1.
"I'm very happy for Guero to get his first career goal on a fantastic cross from Kristian," said Plotkin. "Gonda came up big again in the second half after starting the counter attack and finishing it off."
The Blue Demon defensive unit dug in with time winding down and the Blue Demons claimed the conference-opening win. DePaul improved to 5-2 on the season and the Blue Demons have now won five of their last six matches.
"UConn is an extremely talented team and I thought we were great defensively today," said Plotkin. "Mikey Anderson and our back line were outstanding today when dealing with UConn's dynamic attack. Gandhi continues to be stellar in goal, we could not ask any more of him."
KEY STATS
- DePaul's win in the BIG EAST opener was their first win in a conference opener since a 2-1 OT win over Providence in 2018.
- The Blue Demons improve to 5-0 on the season when scoring first in matches. Enriquez's early strike gave DePaul the edge early on.
- Enriquez is the second DePaul player to score a first-career goal this season. Santiago Rodriguez netted his first goal versus St. Thomas and now has two on the season. Enriquez is the first freshman to score for DePaul this fall.
- Cruz made five saves in net for DePaul on Saturday. Cruz has had five or more saves in four of his last five starts and the sophomore has not allowed more than one goal in each of the last six matches.
- Gonda's goal was his fourth of the season, matching Jack Richards for the team lead. Gonda has picked up an assist and a goal in a single game on two occasions this season.
- Clancy, Ramadan, Malinich and Gonda all tallied assists in the Blue Demon win. 14 different Blue Demons have notched assists over the Blue Demons eight games this fall.
- UConn had the green light offensively all afternoon, firing off 16 shots to DePaul's six. The Huskies outshot the Blue Demons with attempts on goal, 6-3.
UP NEXT
DePaul heads north to Evanston, Ill. to take on Northwestern at 7 p.m. The match will be the final non-conference matchup of the 2021 season. DePaul travels to take on no. 1 Georgetown on Saturday, Oct. 2.
For all of the latest on DePaul Men's Soccer, stay tuned to depaulbluedemons.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
