Last Saturday the DePauw University men’s soccer team traveled to Ohio to face NCAC foe the Hiram College Terriers. The Tigers entered the match at 6-2-2 with the Terriers at 4-4-2. Both teams were 1-1 in conference play.
The Tigers came out of the gates strong, dictating play and dominating possession. It took just under two minutes for the Tigers to get on the score sheet. The goal came from junior midfielder, Peter White, who scored his first collegiate goal off a cross from senior forward Julian Gonzalez.
The Tigers weren’t able to keep the lead going into the break, when Hiram scored from a header in the 33rd minute. The rest of the match was sloppy, with neither team being able to put together fluid play.
With 10 minutes left in the game, Hiram would take the lead and the win with a goal off a deflection. The Tigers weren’t able to find an equalizing goal.
Coach Hauter described the match in one word. “Disappointed… We knew the challenges going in. Came out focused. Scored early. And lost a bit of our edge and focus,” Hauter said.
“We scored early, then took our foot off the gas and failed to deliver the knockout punch,” said sophomore defender, Doug Bannon.
DePauw moved to 6-3-2 overall and 1-2 in NCAC play heading into their match against the visiting Wittenberg University Tigers on Tuesday.
Last night brought the visiting Wittenberg University Tigers to Reavis Stadium. Wittenberg is winless in conference play.
Once again, the Tigers got off to a hot start scoring in the fourth minute of the game. The goal came off a beautiful assist from Gonzalez to senior forward Jay Wheeler who was there for the finish.
The game would take a sudden turn as Wittenberg scored two goals in five minutes. The first was off a penalty kick and the second from a shot inside the box.
DePauw would even up the score in the in the 22nd minute with a goal from sophomore midfielder Parker James, assisted again by Gonzalez. James’s second goal on the season put the score at 2-2 going into halftime.
The Tigers once again took the lead two minutes into the half. Senior forward Zach Hoffman placed a beautiful left-footed strike right into the side netting. Hoffman has 3 goals on the season.
The lead would be further extended in the 56th minute off a penalty kick from Gonzalez. Gonzalez would add another in 83 minute, his ninth goal on the year.
The match ended 5-2 with nearly all of DePauw’s roster entering the match. The Tigers move to 7-3-2 on year and 2-2 in NCAC play.
“Story of two halves,” said DePauw Assistant Coach, Jake Pezzuto. “In the first half we had way more shots but the score was even. Second half came and we took control, dominated play, and found the net three times.”
The Tigers return to the pitch on Saturday in a home match against the College of Wooster at 2:30 p.m..