Sunesson's Brace Leads MU to 3-1 Win at DePaul

CHICAGO – The Marquette men's soccer team defeated the DePaul Blue Demons 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Wish Field.

Lukas Sunesson netted one goal in each half to complete a brace and lead the Golden Eagles (4-1, 1-1 BIG EAST) to their first road victory of the year. Freshman Beto Soto scored off a set piece in the 72nd minute, a tally that would eventually serve as the game-winner for MU.

The Golden Eagles didn't wait long to get the offense flowing as Sunesson opened the scoring with a masterful strike in the 10th minute of the game. He cut to his right after streaking down the left side of the field and laced a ferocious right-footed strike into the top left corner of the net.

DePaul (0-2-2, 0-2 BIG EAST) answered back in the 21st minute with a goal that was credited to striker Matthew Brickman. DPU's Jake Fuderer crossed a ball into the box that hit MU defender Jonathan Robinson and deflected into the net for an own goal.

The Blue Demons outshot the Golden Eagles 6-3 in the first half.

Neither team had many spectacular chances in the second half until the 71st minute, when MU defender Harvey Read headed one on net that ended up being saved by DePaul's keeper.

Less than two minutes later, however, is when the Golden Eagles were able to take advantage of a key opportunity. DPU was called for a foul a couple yards outside the 18. This led to a free kick opportunity and freshman striker Beto Soto didn't miss his chance, lacing a left-footed missile into the top right corner of the net to give MU the lead.

Sunesson sealed the deal with his second tally of the game and team-leading fourth of the season in the 85th minute. He collected a loose ball of a throw in right inside the left side of the box and fired a shot on net that was saved before getting his own rebound and blasting it home.

MU was outshot 14-9 on the day but had six shots on goal compared to five for DPU.

Redshirt sophomore keeper Chandler Hallwood (3-1) saved four shots to help keep the Blue Demons offense at bay.

NOTES
-Lukas Sunesson leads the team with four goals in 2021 and has now scored goals in all three games he's played against DePaul in his career. He netted the lone goal last year in MU's win in Chicago as well.
-Goalkeeper Chandler Hallwood has tallied three-or-more saves in four of the five games this year.
-The Golden Eagles have won four of the last five against the Blue Demons, including two in a row in Chicago.
-Beto Soto scored his second goal of the season today. Both of his goals have been game-winners, as his overtime goal on Feb. 3 against Loyola Chicago was the golden goal.

UP NEXT
The Golden Eagles continue BIG EAST play at Butler on Wednesday, March 10. First touch will be at 1 p.m. Central time in Indianapolis.