August 24, 2012
GREAT GANANCIO
Sophomore scores twice to lead DePaul past UIC, 2-1

CHICAGO - Thiago Ganancio scored his second goal of the game in the 87th minute, giving De Paul a season-opening 2-1 win over UIC Friday at Wish Field.

"Zach Forbes has been playing great and he gave it a flick," Ganancio said of the game-winner. "Their defender tried to kick it back to the goalkeeper and hit it too soft.

"This is for the game," Ganancio said he thought to himself. "He put it on a platter for me."

Ganancio scored the Blue Demons’ first goal of the season in the 63rd minute, off an assist from David Selvaggi. Kyle Gustafson set up the play with a long ball out of the back.

"Selvaggi set me up with a perfect through ball," Ganancio said. "All I had to do was tuck it away. I placed it in the side of the net."

UIC tied the match 1-1 in the 71st minute, when Zach Kaleta scored off Ivan Stanisavljevic's corner kick.

"This is a great feeling, especially beating our rival," Ganancio said. "It's always a hard game against UIC. "We got a chance to show everyone that we can be the best college soccer team in the Chicago area."

The Blue Demons put on the pressure early in the first half with Antonio Aguilar getting an opportunity in the 15th minute from 20 yards out in the middle of the field. But UIC goalkeeper Piotr Kikolski came up with the save. UIC had a free kick from just outside the box in the 23rd minute that sailed over the Blue Demon net.