Marquette University Athletics
Golden Eagles Topple UIC on PKs
4/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
April 20, 2009
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Marquette University hosted UIC in exhibition men's soccer action on Saturday. After a scoreless 90 minutes of regulation it was the Golden Eagles who prevailed over the visiting flames on penalty kicks, 5-4, at Valley Fields.
Marquette goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski came up with a pair of huge saves during PKs, which eventually proved to be the difference in the match.
"He was phenomenal," Marquette head coach Louis Bennett said of his senior-to-be keeper. "Right now, Pyzdrowski is probably playing the best soccer of his career. He's found an emotional niche and a mental toughness which is going to be required in his final year."
Pyzdrowski also stopped a rocket in the first half -- a powerful strike taken by a UIC player at the top of the box -- in what amounted to the Flames best scoring opportunity of the evening.
"Had they been able to convert on that opportunity, it would have been against the run of play," said Bennett. "Pyzdrowski did not have a lot to do, but when he did, he came up big."
Marquette used an up-tempo style, much different than when the Golden Eagles played UIC this past fall, to build up attacks and create a number of dangerous chances in front of the net, especially in the first half. In particular, MU failed to capitalize four corner kicks and a pair of crosses from the wing that barely squeaked through the box.
"The pace and intensity of play was appropriate for a Division I game," added Bennett. "We were patient and kept possession, allowing us to end up in the attacking third. We also didn't allow them to play through the midfield. Their multiple substitutions kept the tempo up, but we kept up with a good pace."
MU didn't have the luxury of a deep bench due to injuries during the spring season and illness, and a number of players had to play out of position based on need, including Tom Lynn, Matt Stummer and Michael Greene.
"I really wanted to see, as I did last week, can the personnel that we have here fit with who we had available, and how much progress had they made, and can we do the things expected of them this fall?"
Despite a lack of scoring, Bennett was pleased with the pressure his team was able to put on the UIC defense.
"I felt that we've already accomplished a lot of what we needed to accomplish. UIC is an experienced NCAA-postseason team. They are a hardened team."
Marquette will wrap-it its spring slate this Saturday at Valley Fields when they host the Brunswick Wisconsin DI Cup, featuring each of the state's NCAA Division I programs going head-to-head. The Golden Eagles will face the Wisconsin Badgers and UW-Milwaukee will take on UW-Green Bay at 10 a.m. Then at 1:30 p.m., the winners of the two early matches will square off as will the two losing teams.
