Buoyed by a hat trick from senior forward Julian Gonzalez, the DePauw University men’s soccer team defeated Allegheny College 4-0 on Saturday, clinching their spot in the NCAC tournament.
Gonzalez entered the match within striking distance of becoming the Tigers’ all-time goal scorer. Gonzalez needed one goal to tie and two goals to break the record of 48 set by J.R. Foster ’02.
In the fifth minute, Gonzalez scored off of a goal assisted by junior midfielder Tara Tataryn. In the 16th minute, the record fell when Gonzalez capitalized on a breakaway following a punt from senior goalkeeper, Harrison Glover. Gonzalez wasn’t done yet, scoring a minute later putting his career tally at 50. In 17 minutes, Gonzalez had become DePauw University’s all-time goal scorer.
Senior forward Jay Wheeler put the nail in the coffin, slipping a shot past the Allegheny goalkeeper in the 19th minute to put DePauw up 4-0. Safely in the lead, DePauw played 26 different players in the remainder of the game which was scoreless. Senior goalie Michael McGrath, who was substituted with 20 minutes to go, registered one of the Tigers’ three saves of the match.
Before the match, Gonzalez received a text from the previous record holder. “JR's text came to me while I was stretching in the locker room preparing for the game and it was something I'll never forget,” Gonzalez said. “He encouraged me to take advantage of the moment. A line that stuck throughout the day was ‘these moments last a lifetime, but only come once in a lifetime.’"
The team was excited about both the win and Gonzalez’s record-breaking game.
“Julian's performance was incredible,” said DePauw Head Coach, Brad Hauter.“He had a hat trick before the game even had a chance to settle in. He deservedly sits as the greatest scorer to ever wear a DePauw jersey... and... he's not done!”
The conference tournament begins this week with the semifinals taking place on Wednesday and the finals on Saturday. The Tigers travel to Gambier, Ohio where they will take on No. 1 seed Kenyon College.
The Tigers have had much success against the Lords lately, winning their last two meetings including a 2-1 victory early this season. With a win the Tigers would have a shot of redemption against either Wabash College or Oberlin College, two teams who the Tigers fell to in regular season play.
“To do well in the tournament, we just need to keep the mentality that every game could be our last,” Gonzalez said, “Leave everything we have out on the field and just play our game.”
The Tiger face Kenyon on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.. The game can be viewed on the DePauw athletics website.