DePaul University
1-0-0, 0-0-0
UIC
0-1-0, 0-0-0
DePaul Downs UIC 4-3 on Opening Night
8/22/2024 11:01:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER
Blue Demons erase early deficit to start season 1-0
Sophomore forward Keagan Pace turned in a career night, recording four points on the outing with a goal and a pair of assists. Christian Baumgartner netted the third goal of his career while Logan Finnegan and George Wyatt notched their first tallies in a Blue Demon uniform.
Goalkeeper Santiago Davila made five saves on the evening, a number of them in acrobatic fashion, to match a career-high.
DePaul (1-0) found the back of the net on four occasions in a game for the first time since 2016 dating back to the Blue Demons' 4-1 win over Northern Kentucky on Sept. 4.
How it Happened
The Blue Demons fell behind early as UIC capitalized on an early chance on the left side of the box and sent it home past the outstretched arms of Davila in the fourth minute.
It didn't take long for DePaul to respond as the visitors capitalized on a defensive miscue by UIC in the ninth minute. Pace executed a successful tackle from 40 yards out and dribbled into the box leaving it for Logan Finnegan to take a touch and hammer it past the Flames goalkeeper on the lower left side of the goal to even the game 1-1. The goal marked 15th of Finnegan's career.
Scarlet and Blue looks good on you, 7 😏
— DePaul Men's Soccer (@DePaulMSOC) August 23, 2024
Finnegan hits it home for his 15th career goal and we're all even at Flames Field! #BlueGrit 🔵😈 pic.twitter.com/v9QszHwNnX
In a flurry of activity in the Flames attacking third in the 28th minute, the DePaul back line held strong and prevented further advances with Davila coming out of net and fending off a shot from point-blank range to keep the score even 1-1.
Lay it all out, Santi 🧤
— DePaul Men's Soccer (@DePaulMSOC) August 23, 2024
What a save from point-blank range from our keeper. pic.twitter.com/72d8GI2scl
DePaul took the lead for good in the 36th minute as Pace slipped a ball to the middle of the box for a barreling Baumgartner who powered it to the bottom left corner of the net. The redshirt-sophomore netted the third goal of his career while Pace recorded his second assist of the night.
This was crazy. That's all I have to say.
— DePaul Men's Soccer (@DePaulMSOC) August 23, 2024
DePaul 2, UIC 1 pic.twitter.com/OvbJLzFO8N
The Blue Demons capped a three-goal first half in the 39th minute as Hernandez found the head of a leaping Wyatt on the far post to extend the lead to a pair.
*chef's kiss*
— DePaul Men's Soccer (@DePaulMSOC) August 23, 2024
Wyatt's first goal as a Blue Demon and the road team is FEELING IT! #BlueGrit 🔵😈 pic.twitter.com/mu6rbxgZnw
The scoring parade continued just 20 seconds into the second half as Pace cleaned up his own rebound and put it beyond the keeper for his fourth point of the night to put DePaul in front 4-1.
After maintaining the bulk of the possession in the second half, UIC broke through in the 77th minute on a ball struck right inside the 6 to trim DePaul's advantage to two.Admin can't keep up, but Keagan Pace can!
— DePaul Men's Soccer (@DePaulMSOC) August 23, 2024
Fourth point of the night for the sophomore to put the visitors in front by three.
DePaul 4, UIC 1 pic.twitter.com/NzTLulItmE
The Flames made things interesting in the 86th minute, converting on a free kick on the left side of the box to make it a one-goal game, 4-3, but that was as close as they would come.
Match Notes
- DePaul improved to 3-2-2 in season openers under head coach Mark Plotkin.
- In the 35th all-time meeting between the two programs, the Blue Demons closed the gap in the head-to-head matchup trailing now 18-14-3.
- The Blue Demons improved to 2-0 in season openers against the Flames.
- Sophomore Keagan Pace notched his first multi-point outing of his career, pushing his career total to five in 13 career appearances.
- With his assist tonight, Noeh Hernandez owns five career-points against UIC in a pair of meetings.
- Santiago Davila improved to 2-1 in his third career start in net.
- Grant Kelner, Max Padua, Nolan McGuire and Daniel Hickiewicz made their collegiate debuts on Thursday night.
- The Blue Demons will turn their attention to another local foe in Northwestern for a match in Evanston on Sunday, Aug. 25.
- Kickoff from Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. with coverage on B1G+.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
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TICKET INFORMATION
Join DePaul Men's Soccer at Wish Field this fall! Blue Demon Soccer Supporter Memberships are on sale now, which include access to all regular season men's and women's home matches at Wish Field! Fans can visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets for more information.
Team Stats
Jack Finnegan (1)
Assisted By: Rui Reis
GOAL by UIC Finnegan, Jack Assist by Reis, Rui.
03:48
Logan Finnegan (1)
Assisted By: Keagan Pace
GOAL by DEP Finnegan, Logan Assist by Pace, Keagan.
08:58
Christian Baumgartner (1)
Assisted By: Keagan Pace
GOAL by DEP Baumgartner, Christian Assist by Pace, Keagan.
35:35
George Wyatt (1)
Assisted By: Noeh Hernandez
GOAL by DEP Wyatt, George Assist by Hernandez, Noeh.
38:23
Keagan Pace (1)
GOAL by DEP Pace, Keagan.
45:23
Rui Reis (1)
Assisted By: Oskar Greven
GOAL by UIC Reis, Rui Assist by Greven, Oskar.
76:48
Paul Brauckmann (1)
GOAL by UIC Brauckmann, Paul.
85:50
