Saturday, October 14
Chicago, Ill.
1:00 p.m.
DePaul University
2-7-3, 0-4-1
1
vs
1
Butler
2-6-4, 1-2-2
1
2
F
Butler
0
1
1
DePaul
0
1
1
DePaul Draws with Butler 1-1 Behind Gonda’s Equalizer
10/14/2023 5:43:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER
Marek Gonda nets first goal of the season to earn Blue Demons a point
CHICAGO — DePaul men's soccer battled to a 1-1 draw with Butler on Saturday afternoon at Wish Field to earn a point in BIG EAST play. Despite trailing by a double-digit margin in shots, the Blue Demons belief never wavered even after going down a goal in the 71st minute. The Blue Demons found a response quickly as senior forward Marek Gonda pulled the Blue Demons even in the 73rd on a ball sent from across the box via Nathaniel Enriquez.
Goalkeeper Gandhi Cruz matched his season-high with nine saves including five in the final 15 minutes of action.
How it Happened
Cagey starts for both DePaul and Butler didn't amount to much for either side in the first ten minutes of play. Butler dominated in the possession, but the Blue Demon defensive line proved impenetrable, highlighted by two saves from Cruz and a pair of blocked shots.
Following a burst of energy from a press high in the box, Gonda fired off DePaul's first shot in the 24th minute, but a Bulldogs block didn't let the chance through.
A yellow card on Butler's Ryan Hannosh in the 38th minute gave DePaul a great free kick just outside the box. Midfielder Callum Watts attempted to arc the kick in, but Bulldogs keeper Caleb Norris was able to get his hands on the ball to keep it from finding the back of the net.
The two teams went into intermission tied, 0-0. Halftime proved to be invigorating for the Blue Demons, who came out with a new energy, hungry for possession. The first six minutes saw a DePaul shot off a corner kick and successive shots by Ethan Gordon and Callum Watts.
Butler (2-6-4, 1-2-2 BIG EAST) wasn't looking to surrender though, creating multiple dangerous plays. A flurry of DePaul blocks kept the game scoreless, but the Bulldogs attack continued to test the Blue Demons. Butler was able to capitalize first with a well-placed shot from the right-side sneaking past a diving Cruz in the 71st minute to fall into the far corner of the net.
Undeterred, DePaul (2-7-3, 0-4-1) returned to the attack. Enriquez drew Butler keeper Norris off his line before servicing a pass to Gonda, who buried the equalizer in the open goal, just two minutes after the scoreline was opened.
Scrappy back-and-forth action followed the goals, with seven fouls and three yellow cards shared between the two teams. Despite multiple chances in the last 15 minutes, influential saves from Cruz and Norris kept the ball from crossing the line before the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Up Next: DePaul will make the short trip up I-94 for its final road match of the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 18 to meet Marquette. Kick off from Valley Fields is set for 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Men's Soccer, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Goalkeeper Gandhi Cruz matched his season-high with nine saves including five in the final 15 minutes of action.
How it Happened
Cagey starts for both DePaul and Butler didn't amount to much for either side in the first ten minutes of play. Butler dominated in the possession, but the Blue Demon defensive line proved impenetrable, highlighted by two saves from Cruz and a pair of blocked shots.
Following a burst of energy from a press high in the box, Gonda fired off DePaul's first shot in the 24th minute, but a Bulldogs block didn't let the chance through.
A yellow card on Butler's Ryan Hannosh in the 38th minute gave DePaul a great free kick just outside the box. Midfielder Callum Watts attempted to arc the kick in, but Bulldogs keeper Caleb Norris was able to get his hands on the ball to keep it from finding the back of the net.
The two teams went into intermission tied, 0-0. Halftime proved to be invigorating for the Blue Demons, who came out with a new energy, hungry for possession. The first six minutes saw a DePaul shot off a corner kick and successive shots by Ethan Gordon and Callum Watts.
Butler (2-6-4, 1-2-2 BIG EAST) wasn't looking to surrender though, creating multiple dangerous plays. A flurry of DePaul blocks kept the game scoreless, but the Bulldogs attack continued to test the Blue Demons. Butler was able to capitalize first with a well-placed shot from the right-side sneaking past a diving Cruz in the 71st minute to fall into the far corner of the net.
Undeterred, DePaul (2-7-3, 0-4-1) returned to the attack. Enriquez drew Butler keeper Norris off his line before servicing a pass to Gonda, who buried the equalizer in the open goal, just two minutes after the scoreline was opened.
Scrappy back-and-forth action followed the goals, with seven fouls and three yellow cards shared between the two teams. Despite multiple chances in the last 15 minutes, influential saves from Cruz and Norris kept the ball from crossing the line before the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Up Next: DePaul will make the short trip up I-94 for its final road match of the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 18 to meet Marquette. Kick off from Valley Fields is set for 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Men's Soccer, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
Butler
DePaul
Goals
1
1
Shots
25
11
Shots on Goal
10
3
Saves
2
9
Corners
8
8
Fouls
11
10
Scoring Plays
Ernesto Osornio (1)
GOAL by Butler Osornio, Ernesto.
70:21
Marek Gonda (1)
Assisted By: Nathaniel Enriquez , Christian Baumgartner
GOAL by DePaul Gonda, Marek Assist by Enriquez, Nathaniel and Baumgartner, Christian.
72:05
Game Leaders
Players
fwd
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
/ MEN'S SOCCERM
/ MEN'S SOCCERF
/ MEN'S SOCCER
D
/ MEN'S SOCCERM
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