Loyola Drops Horizon League Opener To Green Bay, 2-1

September 25, 2011

Sept. 24, 2011

CHICAGO – The Loyola men’s soccer team continued to struggle on offense as it fell to Green Bay tonight in the Horizon League opener. The Phoenix (4-2-1) defeated the Ramblers (1-6-1) with a 2-1 decision to begin conference play. After a game filled with defensive blocks and saves on both ends, all three goals in the match were scored within a four-minute period to highlight the offense.

The Phoenix totaled 21 shots in the match, 10 in the first half alone to keep the Rambler defense on their toes. The combined efforts of James Howe, Emilio Benbassat, and Eric Schoendorf fought off constant offensive pressure to hold Green Bay scoreless in the first half.

Green Bay found a crack in the Rambler defense late in the second half to take the lead. After being awarded a free kick in the 69^th minute, Tony Walls sent the ball into the box and connected with Aaron Cranfill at the doorstep of the goal. Just over a minute later, Alonso Flores added another point for the Phoenix off of an assist by Andrew Stone for a 2-0 score.

Eric Nock started the potential comeback with a goal at the 71:18 minute mark. The junior forward sent a shot from within the box past the goalkeeper to set the score at 2-1. The teams continued to battle for the remainder of the match and with ten seconds left in the match, Nock launched a final attempt that passed just wide of the left post to come up short of the equalizer.

Nock finished with two shots in the match while sophomore Kyle Spoo also tallied two shots in the match for the Rambler offense. Senior Peter McKeown earned the start at goalkeeper and finished with a personal-best 10 saves.

The Ramblers will continue Horizon League play next weekend when they host Butler on Oct. 1 at Loyola Soccer Park. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CST.

http://loyolaramblers.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/092411aab.html