DePaul and Villanova Draw 3-3

Saturday, October 28

Chicago, Ill.

1:00 p.m.

DePaul University

3-7-5, 1-4-3

Villanova

1-7-7, 1-4-3

Villanova

DePaul

10/28/2023 6:38:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER

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Blue Demons and Wildcats fall out of postseason contention

CHICAGO – A back-and-forth battle between DePaul and Villanova ended in a 3-3 draw on Saturday afternoon at Wish Field.

A Decision Day filled with much anticipation and emotion with a postseason bid at stake ended in disappointment for both sides as Seton Hall claimed the final spot in the 2023 BIG EAST Tournament

Senior forward Marek Gonda led DePaul with a pair of goals on Senior Day and Christian Baumgartner netted a goal of his own while three different Blue Demons tallied an assist on the day.

Goalkeeper Gandhi Cruz recorded seven saves on the day pushing his season total to 87.

How it Happened
Villanova opened the scoring right from the start with a ball played into the six and redirected inside the left post past Cruz in the fourth minute.

Just 30 seconds later, Kristian Malinich dribbled down the left flank and sent a ball into the middle of the box finding Gonda who headed the ball to the right post to make things even, 1-1.

The Wildcats reclaimed the lead in the 23rd on ball off the right foot of Villanova's Branden Johns.

DePaul turned up the pressure as a shot from Malinich ricocheted off the post to earn the Blue Demons a corner in the 36th minute. Callum Watts connected with Gonda once again who headed the ball in the back of the net to equalize, 2-2.

The match remained tied at halftime.

The Blue Demons came out of the locker room with renewed energy as Liam Mullins found Baumgartner on the right side of the box before the redshirt freshman powered it home just inside the far post to put DePaul in front 3-2 in the 48th minute.

Much like the first half, Villanova responded within a minute to even the score 3-3.

A red card issued to DePaul's Malinich in the 70th minute put the Blue Demons a man-down for the last 20 minutes of the match.

Following the red, both sides searched for a game-winner but to no avail as each goalkeeper wiped away the opposing chances.

The Blue Demons close out the season 3-7-5 and 1-4-3 in BIG EAST play, finishing fourth in the Midwest Division.

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