DePaul University

CHICAGO - Claire Hanold knows a little something about putting up zeroes.

The DePaul freshman goalkeeper set an Illinois High School Association career record with 73 shutouts at Waubonsie Valley.

Thanks to a talented back line along with her prowess around the net, Hanold has posted six shutouts in her first 10 collegiate matches.

That ties her with Marquette's Natalie Kulla for the most shutouts in the BIG EAST.

Speaking of ties, Hanold's  next shutout will equal a single-season school record set by the program's all-time greatest goalkeeper, Lindsey Deason, in 2003.

"That's pretty cool," Hanold said while preparing for BIG EAST matchups at 6 p.m. Friday at Louisville (3-4-0, 0-1-0 in the BIG EAST) and 1 p.m. Sunday at Wish Field against Cincinnati (6-3-0, 1-0-0). "I haven't really thought about it.

"It's cool to come in and potentially break a record in your first year. That's pretty sweet."

For Hanold, the anatomy of a shutout begins and ends with the backs.

"Your defense is the biggest part of a shutout," Hanold said. "I'm not getting a shutout without my four backs.

"If all of us play well together and no one makes a mistake, there's no reason not to get a shutout."

Dominique and Janina Locascio along with freshmen Chelsea Grant and Beth Perry are the quintessential quartet in Hanold's world.

"At the first scrimmage, I saw how they all work so well together," Hanold said. "You could tell right away they were comfortable with each other.

"We talk a lot. I'll tell them when they have time to clear the ball, which way to turn a player, when to stop and when to get up.

"A shutout is definitely a team effort. You can have the most awesome goalie in the world, but if the back-line defense isn't there, there will be some goals scored."

Blue Demons coach Erin Chastain has watched her goalkeeper and back line merge into a cohesive unit as DePaul has gone 5-3-2 overall and 0-1-0 in the BIG EAST.

"All those shutouts are a credit to the goalkeeper and the four backs," Chastain said. "The back four prides itself on not giving up opportunities in the run of play. Dominique has done an excellent job of that, and Claire has come up with some big saves when we needed them."

None were bigger than the two second-half stops that preserved a 3-2 victory over Northwestern on Aug. 23---the first time the Blue Demons had beaten their rival from Evanston.

"Both were one-on-one situations," Hanold said. "The first one, I made the right choice and came out at the right time to stop the shot. The second one, I was able to tip it over the net."

In 10 matches, Hanold has given up 11 goals for a 1.05 goals-against average. She has been forced to make only 34 saves---3.4 per game. In contrast, Cincinnati goalie Andrea Kaminski has made a BIG EAST-leading 43 saves in just seven games---an average of 6.14 per game.

"Having a lot of shutouts in high school made me want to try and do the same thing in college," Hanold said. "It's pretty awesome having such a good defense in front of you."