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Phoenix Loses Tough Battle at DePaul

Men's Soccer Green Bay Athletics

Phoenix Loses Tough Battle at DePaul

CHICAGO, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - After a scoreless first half, the Green Bay (4-5-1, 1-2-0) men's soccer team fell 3-1 against DePaul (4-6-1, 1-1-0) Wednesday afternoon at Wish Field in Chicago, Ill. Both teams scored within the first eight minutes of the second half but it was not enough for the Phoenix who lost its third game in a row, all on the road.

"It's obviously disappointing to lose, especially in the way we have lost," said head coach Kris Kelderman. "We have been unfortunate in two of the last three games but the challenge is how we respond with our next opponent, Tulsa."

It was a back and forth game in the first half as Green Bay outshot DePaul 8-7 while Travis Meikle (Cottage Grove, Wis.) made three saves for the Phoenix.

"Even though the shots were even in the first half I just thought we lacked a little intensity," said Kelderman. "On the road playing on a small astroturf field is going to make the game a battle with a lot of 50-50 balls. The good news is it was 0-0 at the half."

Both teams picked up the intensity early in the second half, scoring in the opening minutes. Six minutes into the half DePaul's Thiago Ganancio scored off a rebound to give the Blue Demons the 1-0 advantage.

Just over one minute later, Green Bay answered off a DePaul foul as Tony Walls (Wauwatosa, Wis.) converted the free kick for the 1-1 tie. The goal was Walls' third of the season as he landed the ball in the upper left corner of the net from outside the box.

Green Bay had a good chance to take the lead with 33:20 to play when Alonso Flores (Chicago, Ill.) took a header shot which hit the cross bar, was rebounded by Walls for the shot and goal but Green Bay was ruled offsides.

With 29:33 remaining, Meikle attempted to save a ball going out of bounds but DePaul was granted a penalty kick. DePaul's Antonio Aguilar took the penalty kick, Meikle made the save but Aguilar rebounded and converted for the goal, giving the Blue Demons the 2-1 advantage.

"I asked the referee afterwards about the call and he obviously felt comfortable with his decision much more than I did," Kelderman said. "At that point it was one of those calls that changed the complexion of the game and put us in the ultimate attack mode being down a goal."

DePaul took the 3-1 lead with 13:01 remaining when the Blue Demons served the ball to the lower left corner of the box for the goal.

DePaul controlled the second half as Green Bay was outshot 21-15 in the contest with only three corner kick opportunities. Playing his first complete game for the Phoenix, Meikle grabbed a career-high seven saves.

"I thought Travis played very well," Kelderman said of Meikle first career start. "He came up big on the save on the penalty kick as we stood watching."

Green Bay wraps up its four-game road stint at Tulsa (4-5-0, 0-1-0) Saturday, Oct. 8. The Phoenix is looking forward to returning home Saturday, Oct. 15 to battle Horizon League rival Butler at 7 p.m. at Aldo Santaga Stadium. Green Bay will host in-state rival Wisconsin Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.

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Season tickets and Fall Sports Passes are still on sale for men's soccer, as well as women's soccer and volleyball. Season tickets for each sport are available for $25 each, or a Fall Sports Pass can be purchased for admission to all three sports for just $50 for an adult and $25 for a youth pass. For more information and an order form, click here.

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Players Mentioned

Alonso Flores

#12 Alonso Flores

F
5' 11"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Alonso Flores

#12 Alonso Flores

5' 11"
Freshman
F