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Blumberg, Scandora Awaken the Attack in Victory Over Butler
CHICAGO - Just when it seemed like DePaul was headed for another scoreless tie, Kelly Blumberg and Michelle Scandora took matters into their own, well, feet. Breaking their team out of an offensive drought, Blumberg and Scandora lit up Wish Field with goals Friday in leading the Blue Demons to a 2-0 victory over Butler. Coach Erin Chastain's team is now 4-1-2, equalling the total number of victories it had all last season. "It shows we're a much better team and that we've come a long way from last year," Scandora said. "No one should look past us." Chastain was delighted with Scandora's first goal of the season that came in the 84th minute. "I loved Michelle's goal," Chastain said. "We've had plays where the ball was bouncing in front, and we just need someone to sock it into the back of the net. "Michelle showed such feistiness, and it was a strong finish." The first half resembled DePaul's last game, a scoreless, double-overtime tie Sunday at Drake. The Blue Demons also have a scoreless tie with Toledo. DePaul had 17 shots against Drake and couldn't convert. The Blue Demons outshot Butler 11-2, and Chastain winced at several missed opportunities. But in the 62nd minute, Shannon Williams penetrated the Bulldog defense and positioned herself for a nice feed to Blumberg for her second goal of the year. "I saw Shannon with the ball, and I had to make a crossover run," Blumberg said. "She passed it to me, I turned and shot. "Right when I kicked it, I knew it was going in. "After last week, it was important to get a goal. We had so many shots during the Drake game---this was like a sigh of relief. We're getting back to the old DePaul." The women's soccer team began the season scoring seven goals in the first two games. In the next four matches, the Blue Demons had two goals. A defense headed by Dominique Locascio and Chelsea Grant limited Butler (2-4-0) to one shot on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Claire Hanold was called upon to make just one save. This was Hanold's fifth shutout of the season, leaving her two shy of the single-season record of seven set by Lindsey Deason in 2003. Next up for the Blue Demons is a matchup against Wisconsin Sunday in Madison. NOTES: With the assist, Williams moves into a tie for the team lead in points (five) with Tara Strickland... Williams has a goal and three assists while Strickland has two goals and one assist... Blumberg, a freshman, is tied for second with four points along with Dominique Locascio (two goals)... hard-working Morgan Celaya led DePaul in shots with four against Butler while Scandora, Blumberg and Jenna Fagerman each had two... DePaul had six shots on goal to the one for Butler... a victory over the Badgers on Sunday will give the women's soccer team its best start since 2001 when the Blue Demons began 5-1-1.
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