Second chances don't come all that often in sports. At least that's what the Marquette men's soccer team was thinking Saturday night when it cashed in on two opportunities for redemption.

Junior goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski made two spectacular saves on penalty kicks to give the Golden Eagles a 5-4 shootout win over Illinois-Chicago.

The victory was momentous for two reasons.

The first was that, after falling to then-No. 9 Illinois-Chicago on Oct. 2, 2008 at Valley Fields, Marquette was able to make good on its rematch opportunity Saturday.

"I think all fall we knew that we could hang with the big teams," freshman midfielder Calum Mallace said. "But it is nice to show them that we feel we are just as strong if not stronger than them; we are the better team. We worked our butts off all spring and we showed it yesterday."

That fall game was a physical one that involved Illinois-Chicago coach John Trask yelling at Marquette coach Louis Bennett, Bennett yelling at his players and his players committing countless silly fouls.

With sophomore midfielder Anthony Colaizzi already missing that match because of a red card he received against Cincinnati, junior midfielder Michael Greene was handed one, too. Nevertheless, it took the unbeaten Flames until the 85th minute to put one past Pyzdrowski.

The second time around the Golden Eagles were much more focused, committing far fewer fouls and getting off many more shot attempts.

"I thought we showed some control, we showed some style, we controlled the ball very well, we had great combinations and some guys, playing out of position, had their best games," Bennett said.

After 90 minutes of scoreless play, the teams lined up for penalty kicks.

That's the second reason the victory brought extra cause for celebration. Marquette lost in penalty kicks just two weeks ago to Wisconsin-Milwaukee at the Bob Summy Memorial game. Pyzdrowski made one impressive save against the Panthers, but it wasn't enough as the Golden Eagles ended up losing the decision.

Pyzdrowski didn't let the loss enter his mind while he stood in goal for the Golden Eagles Saturday.

"That game was behind me," Pyzdrowski said. "What happened at the UWM game, it happened. I don't think there was any redemption."

Illinois-Chicago's Kevin Stoll and Marquette sophomore midfielder Matt Stummer were the first two to step up, and both buried the ball in the back of the net. Then after another Illinois-Chicago make, freshman midfielder Amilcar Herrera had his shot saved by the Flames goalkeeper. A goal by both Mallace and junior midfielder Tom Lynn kept the Golden Eagles close, but they still trailed 4-3.

That's when Pyzdrowski found his rhythm. Diving to his left, he managed to get a hand on the ball, deflecting it off the right post. A Billy Von Rueden make followed, tying it up, 4-4.

Against the next Illinois-Chicago attempt, Pyzdrowski again dove to his left. Misjudging the shot and leaping too far, he somehow caught the ball with his right foot to make the save. After that all it took was a final goal by little-used freshman Chris Madsen, and the Golden Eagles were victorious.

"They've actually won three games, or four games on penalties," Bennett said. "It was kind of fun to go to penalties, because I think they thought they had the upper hand. But we've got Pyzdrowski."