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.
