Wildcats Edged by Blue Demons 2-1 in Home Opener

Monday, September 7

Evanston, Ill.

1:00 PM

Northwestern

0-1-1

DePaul

1-2-0

Team	1	2	Final F
DePaul	1	1	2
Northwestern	0	1	1

Wildcats Edged by Blue Demons 2-1 in Home Opener

9/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 7, 2009

Box Score | Photo Gallery

EVANSTON, Ill. - Ninth-ranked Northwestern threw everything it had at DePaul in the second half, but the visiting Blue Demons spoiled the Wildcats' home opener by holding on for a 2-1 Monday afternoon at Lakeside Field.

Trailing 1-0 at the intermission, NU (0-1-1) came out in the second half and continually pressured its crosstown rival. The persistence finally paid off at 64:58 as Matt Eliason took a feed from Oliver Kupe and beat DePaul keeper Joe Ferrari for his third goal of the season. It was also Kupe's third assist of the young campaign.

With the equalizer on the board, Northwestern had all the momentum, but the Blue Demons didn't wait long to answer back. Just a minute and 23 seconds after Eliason's tally, Alex Mangan was able to finish a cross from Charlie Mancuso at the back post to give the guests the lead right back.

The Wildcats refused to go away, though. NU had a number of quality scoring chances down the stretch, with the best opportunity coming in the 77th minute. Off a corner kick, Jack Hillgard's header was cleared off the goalline by a Blue Demon defender. In the ensuing flurry, freshman Alex Male's diving header came within inches of knotting the score. The ball banged off the crossbar and went straight down but not in as DePaul dodged the bullet.

Northwestern kept the pressure on in the closing minutes, but the visitors were able to hang on to earn the upset win.

The Wildcats finished with a slim 7-6 edge in shots, including 5-2 in the second half.

DePaul (1-2-0) got on the board first at 8:15 as preseason All-Big East selection Steffen Vroom retrieved a blocked shot and posted a rebound goal. NU's best opportunity of the opening half came moment later when Eliason ripped a blast that was deflected by Ferrari before a Blue Demon defender saved before it went in the net.

Northwestern returns to action at 2:30 p.m. Friday when it travels to DeKalb, Ill., to take on Oakland in the adidas/NIU Invitational.