Men's Soccer Game Recaps

2007 GAME RECAPS
(Click on results to obtain game statistics)

JOLIET, Ill. — USF was outscored 5-2 in a wild second half as Grace (IN) handed the Saints a 6-3 season-ending loss at the Galowich YMCA Fields on Tuesday.

The two teams battled to a 1-1 tie at halftime but both picked up the offense in the final stanza. Grace had taken an early 1-0 lead but USF knotted the score midway through the opening half on a penalty kick by senior forward Doug Diak (Althoff H.S./Glen Carbon, IL) who was playing his final collegiate game.

Grace got the scoring started in the second half, taking a 2-1 lead just 66 seconds into the final period. The Lancers quickly made it 3-1 with another score just 11 minutes later.

USF moved back within a single goal when freshman Mike Healy (Smithport H.S./Smithport, PA) broke free and nailed one past the goalie after a pair of slick passes from freshman Jordan Parcel (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) and Diak in the 65th minute.

Five minutes later, Grace pushed the lead back to two when Lancer Ryan Gerber scored his third goal of the game.

But the Saints would not give up. Diak scored his second goal -- and notched his fifth point -- of the game off a fine assist from fellow senior Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) to close the gap to 4-3 with over 15 minutes remaining.

Grace, though, put the issue to rest with a pair of goals in the next seven minutes.

The loss left the Saints’ 2007 season record at 1-13-1. USF had finished CCAC play last week with a 1-8 league mark.

Grace improved to 5-10-1.

NOTES: Four seniors completed their USF soccer careers on Tuesday -- Diak, Wicyk, forward Jeff Soukup (Glenbard North H.S./Glendale Heights, IL) and midfielder/defender Nathan Cote (Morris H.S./Romeoville, IL) ... Diak finished on a high note with two goals and an assist. He led the team in scoring with 15 points, in goals with six and shared the lead with Parcel with three assists. It marked the second year in a row that Diak has led USF in scoring ... Wicyk was right behind Diak in scoring with 11 points. He finished with five goals and led the team in that category until Diak notched his two against Grace. Wicyk led the Saints in shots taken (37) and shots on goal (19) for the season ... USF played six different players in goal for the season and only one -- freshman Bobby Markatos (Stagg H.S./Palos Hills, IL) was a goalkeeper on the roster at the start of the season. Markatos broke his foot in the season’s second game and missed the rest of the year. Defenders Cote, Soukup, Healy and Luis Escorza (Plainfield Central H.S./Joliet, IL) all did their best to fill in. Walk-on junior Josh Mastel (Ashley Road Baptist School/Morris, IL), who played goalie in high school soccer, joined the squad midway through the season and played seven games for the Saints, including their only win (a 2-1 verdict over Robert Morris) ... Injuries and some class conflicts again took a big bite out of the USF season. Only three Saints -- Escorza, Cote and freshman David Oropeza (Saint Lawrence Seminary WI/Chicago, IL) were able to play in all 15 games. Normal starters missing from the Saints’ lineup in the finale against Grace were junior forward Ben Miller (Leiston, England), junior midfielder Bryant Jacob (Plainfield Central H.S./Plainfield, IL), sophomore defender Nick Linko (Joliet Catholic Academy/Joliet, IL) and Mastel. All but Mastel were out with injuries. Jacob missed the last seven games and Miller sat out the last five ... The three goals against Grace matched a season high set earlier in a 4-3 overtime loss to Cardinal Stritch on Oct. 9.

OCTOBER 20:
TRINITY INTERNATIONAL 5 , USF 1

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Trinity International defeated University of St. Francis, 5-1, Saturday afternoon as the Saints played their final Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference game of the 2007 season.

TIU led 2-0 at halftime and built its lead to 5-0 before allowing a USF goal. USF finally got on the board in the final minutes of the game when senior forward Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) deflected in a free kick off the foot of freshman defender Jeremy Farinetti (Shaker Heights H.S./Aurora, OH).

USF’s comeback chances suffered a big blow three minutes into the second half when sophomore defender Nick Linko (Joliet Catholic Academy/Joliet, IL) left the game for good to receive stitches to close up a gash on his head.

The loss drops USF to 1-12-1 overall and gives the Saints a final 1-8 mark in CCAC play.

USF closes out its 2007 season on Tuesday when it plays host to Grace (IN) at 3 p.m. at the Galowich YMCA Fields.

NOTES: Wicyk’s goal was his team-high fifth of the season and put him into a tie with senior forward Doug Diak (Althoff H.S./Glen Carbon, IL) for team leadership in total points with 10 ... Four seniors will play their final collegiate games on Tuesday -- Wicyk, Diak, midfielder Nathan Cote (Morris H.S./Romeoville, IL) and forward Jeff Soukup (Glenbard North H.S./Glendale Heights, IL).

OCTOBER 16:
TRINITY CHRISTIAN 2, USF 1

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. --- For the third time in as many games, University of St. Francis came up on the short end of a one-goal decision, dropping a 2-1 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest to Trinity Christian College Tuesday night.

Neither team posed a serious scoring threat in the first 45 minutes as St. Francis (1-11-1, 1-7 CCAC) was limited to just one shot on goal, that coming from senior midfielder Doug Diak (Althoff Catholic H.S./Glen Carbon, IL). Trinity Christian, meanwhile, attempted just three shots on goal against junior goalkeeper Josh Mastel (Ashley Road Baptist School/Morris, IL).

The Trolls (8-7-2, 3-3-2 CCAC) finally broke through in the game’s 71st minute when Eric Vanden Berg found an open Nick Swies in front of the net. Swies connected from 20 feet out to break the deadlock before Ryan Clemens added what turned out to be a much-needed insurance goal on a penalty kick at 84:15.

Four minutes later, USF got the latter goal back on its own penalty kick by Diak with 1:41 remaining in the contest.

Mastel finished with four saves in goal.

Diak’s two shots were the only ones on goal for the Saints, who were limited to three shots overall.

NOTES: Each of USF’s last five contests have been decided by one goal, where the Saints have gone 1-4 including two losses in overtime … Diak regained a share of the team lead in goals scored with senior forward Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL). Both have four for the season … Diak’s four goals are also a new career high for the senior.

OCTOBER 13:
ILLINOIS TECH 2, USF 1

JOLIET, Ill. — Visiting Illinois Tech scored twice in the final 25 minutes to overtake University of St. Francis and post a 2-1 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over the Saints on Saturday afternoon.

USF scored the only goal of the first half when freshman Luis Escorza (Plainfield Central H.S./Joliet, IL) connected off a direct kick from senior Doug Diak (Althoff H.S./Glen Carbon, IL) at the 28:30 mark.

USF maintained that lead until Illinois Tech’s Nathan Waisath knocked home a rebound in the 67th minute. Waisath then pushed home the game-winner at the 85:54 mark off an assist from Steven Booher.

Illinois Tech outshot the Saints, 29-17, and had 11 shots on goal compared to USF’s six.

Senior forward Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) led the Saints with eight total shots and three that were on goal. Escorza had two on goal, including USF’s only score of the game.

USF junior goalkeeper Josh Mastel (Ashley Road Baptist School/Morris, IL) was credited with nine saves in the game.

The Saints fell to 1-10-1 overall and to 1-6 in CCAC play. USF plays at CCAC foe Trinity Christian Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

OCTOBER 9:
CARDINAL STRITCH (WI) 4, USF 3 (OT)

JOLIET, Ill. — University of St. Francis battled back from a 3-0 deficit to score three goals in the final 18 minutes of regulation and force overtime, but Cardinal Stritch (WI) scored less than three minutes into the extra session to defeat the Saints, 4-3, Tuesday afternoon at the Galowich YMCA fields.

The USF trio of senior Doug Diak (Althoff H.S./Glen Carbon, IL), sophomore Nick Linko (Joliet Catholic Academy/Joliet, IL) and freshman David Oropeza (St. Lawrence Seminary WI/Chicago, IL) accounted for the three USF goals with each player scoring one and getting an assist on another.

Diak’s goal came off a feed from Oropeza with less than 18 minutes remaining in the game. Oropeza took a pass from Linko and pulled the Saints within one at the 80:46 mark of the contest. Finally, Linko knotted the score in the 84th minute when he headed in a direct kick from Diak after a Cardinal Stritch foul.

The Saints, though, couldn’t carry the momentum into the overtime session and CSU converted on the game-winning goal just 2:42 into the first extra period.

USF generated very little offense until the final 18 minutes as the Saints had just a single shot on goal up until that time. USF managed to finish the game with seven total shots, five of which were on goal and three that scored. Diak led the way with three shots, including two on goal.

USF goalkeeper Josh Mastel (Ashley Road Baptist School/Morris, IL) was credited with eight saves on the day and one of the four goals he allowed came on a penalty kick.

USF’s overall record fell to 1-9-1 and its CCAC mark to 1-5. The Saints play host to Illinois Tech Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the front half of a men’s and women’s doubleheader with the Scarlet Hawks.

NOTES: USF missed the services of leading scorer Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) on Tuesday as he was sitting out the game after receiving his fifth yellow caution card of the season in the Saints’ 2-1 win over Robert Morris on Saturday ... The Saints also played without sophomore starting defender Tony Sallese (Plainfield Central H.S./Plainfield, IL) who missed the game to due an academic conflict. Also missing for the first time was junior midlfielder Ben Miller (Leiston, England) who suffered a hand injury in the Robert Morris win ... Due to the missing players, USF suited up just 14 players for the contest.

OCTOBER 6:
USF 2, ROBERT MORRIS 1

JOLIET, Ill. — Senior forward Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) deflected in a direct kick from junior Ben Miller (Leiston, England) with less than nine minutes remaining in the game to boost University of St. Francis to its first win of the season, a 2-1 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Robert Morris at the Galowich YMCA field on Saturday.

The deciding goal came just five minutes after Robert Morris had tied the score on an unassisted goal by Adrian Skital.

USF had grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first half on a rebound shot by defender Nick Linko (Joliet Catholic Academy/Joliet, IL) in front of the net at the 37:18 mark.

Both teams recorded six shots on goal and Robert Morris tallied one more shot on the afternoon with 17 compared to USF’s 16. Wicyk led the Saints with eight total shots and had three on goal.

Junior goalkeeper Josh Mastel (Ashley Road Baptist School/Morris, IL) notched his first collegiate win in just his fourth start of the season. Mastel was credited with five saves on the afternoon.

The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Saints which followed a season-opening tie against William Penn (IA) at the Iowa Wesleyan Tournament back on Aug. 25. It was USF’s first win in 14 games dating back to a 4-1 win over Ashford (IA) on Oct. 10, 2006 in Joliet.

USF, now 1-8-1 overall and 1-4 in CCAC play, entertains Cardinal Stritch (WI) in a conference game on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the first half of a men’s and women’s doubleheader.

NOTES: Wicyk leads the Saints with four goals, two ahead of senior midfielder Doug Diak (Althoff H.S./Glen Carbon, IL) who has a pair ... Wicyk also leads in total shots (23) and shots on goal (11) ... The Saints are 1-1 at home this season and play their next two games and three of their final five at the Galowich YMCA field.

OCTOBER 2:
CALUMET (IN) 3 , USF 2 (OT)

SCHERERVILLE, Ind. — Calumet College (IN) rallied for two second-half goals and scored the game’s only goal in overtime to defeat University of St. Francis, 3-2, in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference match on Tuesday.

USF had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half on a pair of early goals by freshman David Oropeza (St. Lawrence Seminary WI/Chicago, IL) at the two-minute mark and senior Doug Diak (Althoff H.S./Glen Carbon, IL) at the 23-minute mark.

Calumet’s Ryan Fentress scored the two goals that tied the game for the Crimson Wave, notching the game-tying point at the 71-minute mark.

The hosts’ Miguel Diaz posted the game-winner with just two minutes left in the second 10-minute overtime session.

USF managed just eight shots on the game, compared to Calumet’s 22. The Saints, though, had four of their eight shots on goal with Diak getting three of those four.

The loss was USF’s eighth in a row after a season-opening tie against William Penn at the Iowa Wesleyan tournament on Aug. 25. The Saints are now 0-4 in CCAC play.

NOTES: USF played Tuesday without the services of sophomore defender Nick Linko (Joliet Catholic Academy/Joliet, IL) who missed the game after receiving a red card in Saturday’s match at Judson. Also missing was starting midfielder Bryant Jacob (Plainfield Central H.S./Plainfield, IL) who was out with an injury ... Oropeza’s goal was the first of his collegiate career ... Diak’s goal was his second of the season and puts him one behind team leader Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) who has three.

SEPTEMBER 29:
JUDSON 9, USF 1

ELGIN, Ill. — No. 23 Judson scored five times in the first 33 minutes and rolled to a 9-1 victory over University of St. Francis Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles wasted no time in taking control of the game, scoring unassisted goals at the 8:01 and 11:58 marks of the first half. They added three more goals before halftime.

USF notched its only score just under 10 minutes into the second half when senior forward Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) logged an unassisted goal from 20 yards out on the right side.

Junior goalkeeper Josh Mastel (Ashley Road Baptist H.S./Morris, IL) collected seven saves in just his second collegiate start.

USF recorded seven shots on goal on the afternoon, with Wicyk accounting for three of them. Junior forward Ben MIller (Leiston, England) had two shots toward the net and freshman midfielder David Oropeza (St. Lawrence Seminary WI/Chicago, IL) added one.

USF fell to 0-7-1 on the season and 0-3 in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play. The Saints have lost seven straight games after tying William Penn in their season opener on Aug. 25.

The Saints travel to Hammond, Ind., for a CCAC tilt with Calumet (IN) on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 25:
OLIVET NAZARENE 2, USF 0

JOLIET, Ill. — Visiting Olivet Nazarene broke a scoreless dual with a pair of second-half goals to hand University of St. Francis its sixth straight defeat Tuesday at the Galowich YMCA field.

The Tigers got on the board with a pair of unassisted goals at the 49:18 and 61:30 marks of the game.

St. Francis struggled to put together any offense and had just six shots on the game, with only four on goal.

A bright spot for the Saints was the play of newcomer Josh Mastel (Ashley Road Baptist H.S./Morris, IL) in goal. Mastel, who joined the team earlier in the week, recorded seven saves.

No Saint had more than one shot or one shot on goal for the game.
USF travels to Elgin on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. date with Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference perennial power Judson.

NOTES: Senior forward Doug Diak (Althoff H.S./Glen Carbon, IL) will sit out Saturday’s game at Judson after receiving two yellow cards in today’s loss ... The game today was the home opener for the Saints’ men’s team.

SEPTEMBER 21:
SAINT XAVIER 6, USF 1

CHICAGO, Ill. — Saint Xavier spoiled University of St. Francis’ Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference 2007 debut with a 6-1 victory over the Saints Friday night at Bruce Deaton Field on the SXU campus.

The Cougars notched the game’s first goal a little over 21 minutes into the contest and the score remained 1-0 until the last three minutes of the half.

A total of three more goals were scored in those three minutes, with SXU getting the first two to go up 3-0 and St. Francis countering with a Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) goal off a feed from freshman Jordan Parcel (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) in the final minute-and-a-half.

The Saints, though, were unable to get any closer and Saint Xavier immediately regained the momentum early in the second half on a goal at the 46:26 mark.

USF was outshot, 20-9, and had only five shots on goal against SXU’s 14. Freshman Luis Escorza (Plainfield Central H.S./Joliet, IL) and junior Ben Miller (Leiston, England) each had two shots on goal in addition to Wicyk’s first-half score.

Senior forward Jeff Soukup (Glenbard North H.S./Glendale Heights, IL) played his first collegiate game in goal and registered eight saves.

USF fell to 0-5-1 in the season and 0-1 in league play.

SEPTEMBER 16:
SIOUX FALLS (SD) 3, USF 0

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Sioux Falls (SD) scored three first-half goals and blanked the Saints for the entire 90 minutes in a 3-0 victory in Sunday’s final game of the Franciscan Cup tourney at Viterbo University.

USF was outshot, 16-7, and managed just three shots on goal compared to Sioux Falls’ nine.

Senior Doug Diak (Althoff H.S./Glen Carbon,IL), junior Ben Miller (Leiston, England) and freshman Luis Escorza (Plainfield Central H.S./Joliet, IL) registered USF’s shots on goal.

Freshman midfielder Mike Healy (Southport H.S./Southport, PA) started his second straight game as the Saints’ emergency goalkeeper and turned away six of Sioux Falls’ nine shots on goal.

The Saints (0-4-1) travel to Chicago to open Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Friday evening at Saint Xavier.

SEPTEMBER 15:
VITERBO (WI) 6, USF 2

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Host Viterbo (WI) snapped a 1-1 tie in the game’s 67th minute and then pulled away from a 3-2 lead with a trio of goals in the game’s final 10 minutes to defeat University of St. Francis, 6-2, in the opening game of the Franciscan Cup tourney on Saturday.

The Saints, playing again with a field player in goal due to an injury to their regular goalkeeper, had managed to tie the score at 1-1 on an unassisted goal by senior forward Doug Diak (Althoff H.S./Glen Carbon, IL) 13 minutes into the second half.

After Viterbo scored twice to move the margin to 3-1, USF got back in the game on an unassisted goal off the foot of freshman midfielder Luis Escorza (Plainfield Central H.S./Joliet, IL) with 13 minutes left in the game.

It was at that point where Viterbo put the game away with three goals, including one in the game’s final seconds.

Freshman midfielder Mike Healy (Southport H.S./Southport, PA) drew the assignment in goal as head coach Mario Dukovac looked for the best combination of players to make up for the loss of starting goalie Bobby Markatos (Stagg H.S./Palos Hills, IL). Healy was credited with three saves.

The Saints outshot Viterbo, 20-16, but the hosts had more shots on goal (9-7). Junior Ben Miller (Leiston, England) led USF with six shots and shared the team lead with two being on goal. Senior Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) had five shots and also had two on goal.

The loss was USF’s third in a row and dropped the Saints to 0-3-1 on the season. USF plays Sioux Falls (SD) on Sunday to complete play in the tournament.

NOTES: The goals for Diak and Escorza were their first for the season. For Escorza, it was also his first career collegiate goal.

SEPTEMBER 9:
NOTRE DAME (OH) 8, USF 0

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio --- Host Notre Dame College (OH) led 3-0 at halftime, pushed the margin to 5-0 early in the second half and then scored three more goals in the game’s final 25 minutes to hand University of St. Francis an 8-0 defeat Sunday afternoon at Brush H.S.

The Saints were forced to start senior midfielder Nathan Cote (Morris H.S./Romeoville, IL) in goal since regular goalkeeper Bobby Markatos (Stagg H.S./Palos Hills, IL) remains out with a foot injury suffered last week at Ashford (IA). Cote, who has never played goal at the collegiate level, made five saves but was unable to contain a strong Notre Dame (3-0-1) team.

USF managed to take five shots but none were on goal. Senior Ben Miller (Leiston, England) led the Saints with a pair of shots.

The Saints (0-2-1) are off until next Saturday when they play host Viterbo (WI) on the first day of the Franciscan Cup tourney in La Crosse, Wis.

NOTES: With Markatos out due to injury, the Saints find themselves without an experienced goalkeeper. Sophomore Alex McKanna (Plainfield South H.S./Plainfield, IL), the other goalie on the Saints’ roster, is academically ineligible and will not play this season.

AUGUST 29:
ASHFORD (IA) 4, USF 2

CLINTON, Iowa --- Host Ashford University (IA) turned the tables on University of St. Francis Wednesday afternoon, avenging last season’s 4-1 loss in Joliet with a 4-2 decision over the Fighting Saints (0-1-1).

Ashford snapped a scoreless tie with a goal 31 minutes into the game and quickly made it 2-0 with another score less than two minutes later.

The second goal did not only put USF in a hole but also knocked out the Saints’ goalkeeper -- freshman Bobby Markatos (Stagg H.S./Palos Hills, IL) -- who left the game with an ankle injury suffered on the scoring play.

Since Markatos was the only true goalkeeper on the USF travel roster, Saints’ head coach Mario Dukovac was forced to move senior starting midfielder Nathan Cote (Morris H.S./Romeoville, IL) into goal for the remainder of the game.

Cote allowed two more goals before halftime, with both scoring in a 2:33 span in the half’s final 10 minutes. He blanked Ashford for the remainder of the game and was credited with 10 saves.

USF’s first goal came at the 34-minute mark of the opening half and temporarily pulled the Saints within one goal of Ashford. Senior defender Phil Wicyk (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) scored the goal, his first of the season.

Junior midfielder Bryant Jacob (Plainfield Central H.S./Plainfield, IL) notched USF’s other goal in the game’s 74th minute.

The Saints return to action on Sept. 9 when they travel to Cleveland to play Notre Dame College (OH).

NOTES: Despite the loss, Wednesday’s game represented the first time the Saints have scored more than one goal in a game since their 4-1 win over the same Ashford University last Oct. 10 in Joliet. USF had scored one goal in two of its last four games a year ago and in last Saturday’s season-opening tie against William Penn (IA) at the Iowa Wesleyan tournament in Burlington, IA. The Saints were shut out twice in their last four games a year ago ... USF was outshot by Ashford, with the host Saints registering 20 shots on goal and USF collecting just 9 ... Jacob was the only Saint with more than one shot on goal as he was credited with four ... The Saints do not play their first home game until Sept. 25 when they host Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Olivet Nazarene as part of a women’s and men’s doubleheader at the Galowich YMCA.

AUGUST 25:
USF 1, WILLIAM PENN (IA) 1 --- 2OT

BURLINGTON, Iowa --- University of St. Francis’ 1-0 lead turned out to be short-lived as the Saints had to settle for a 1-1 double-overtime tie with William Penn University (IA) in its season opener at the rain-shortened Iowa Wesleyan College Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

USF senior midfielder Nate Cote (Morris H.S./Romeoville, IL) broke a scoreless tie at the 52-minute mark on a pass from freshman forward Luis Escorza (Plainfield Central H.S./Plainfield, IL), but the Saints could only enjoy the lead for six minutes as William Penn answered with its lone goal at 58:00.

Freshman Bobby Markatos (Stagg H.S./Palos Hills, IL) stopped William Penn's four other shots in registering his first collegiate tie in goal.

NOTES: Cote’s goal was the second of his brief one-plus year stint with the Saints ... With its lone tally on Saturday, USF has now been held to one goal or less in five straight contests and eight of nine games dating back to last year ... St. Francis’ game against Mount Mercy College (IA) on Friday was cancelled due to the heavy rains that hit the Midwest over the past three days. It will not be made up.