In Short…

Junior Elliot Collier scored a pair of goals in the first half as the No.12/8 Loyola University Chicago men’s soccer team eased past Central Arkansas by a final score of 3-1 this evening at the Bill Stephens Soccer Complex in Conway, Ark.  With the win, the Ramblers move to 8-1-0 overall (3-0-0 MVC), while the Bears slip to 2-5-1 (0-2-0 MVC)

 

Coach Jones’ Thoughts…

“After a tough result on Tuesday night at Creighton, I thought the group bounced back well tonight.  We scored some very nice goals and, at times, played some quality soccer.  Central Arkansas has improved a lot and gave us some trouble in their attack.  It was disappointing to concede a late goal, but overall in this conference getting road results is difficult so we are extremely happy with three points.  Now we turn our attention to a good DePaul team back home in Chicago on Tuesday.”

 

How It Happened

It took Loyola all of six minutes to crack the scoreboard on a mild early fall evening in Arkansas.  Sophomore Alec Lasinski laid a pass off for Collier at that top of the 18-yard box that the Hamilton, New Zealand product rifled home with his left foot to put Loyola in front, 1-0, in the early stages of the seventh minute.  The Ramblers continued to pressure the Bears as time progressed.  Junior Brody Kraussel’s bid to make it 2-0 in the 18^th minute was turned away by Marc Olsen, the Central Arkansas goalkeeper. 

 

The combination of Kraussel and Collier produced the Maroon & Gold’s second tally of the evening.  Kraussel sent a cross into the box from the right wing that connected with Collier, who finished from just outside the six-yard box to make it 2-0 to Loyola in the 25^th minute.  The Rambler backline stepped up in the 38^th minute as it blocked a pair of attempts by Christian Ilia to ensure that Loyola would carry its two-goal lead into the intermission.

 

Pepe San Roman looked to draw a goal back for the hosts just over two minutes into the second half but was denied by redshirt junior goalkeeper Andrew Chekadanov.  San Roman was at it again in the 54^th minute when he fired high off of a corner kick.  Kraussel added another insurance goal three minutes after the Bears’ misfire.  The Milwaukee, Wis. product collected a misplayed pass by the Bears in their own third and unleashed a blast from 30 yards out that cleared a leaping Olsen and found its way in at the far post to stretch the Loyola lead to 3-0.

 

Even with a three-goal advantage, the Ramblers continued to press forward.  Sophomore Fabian Lifka was denied by Olsen just short of the hour mark.  Collier had his attempt for a hat trick turned away by the Central Arkansas netminder minutes later.  Wes Carson pulled a goal back for the Bears in the 74^th minute when he headed home a cross from Krystian Sarzynski but that would be all that Central Arkansas could muster as Loyola closed out a 3-1 road victory.

 

Looking At The Numbers

- Loyola’s victory this evening, its first on the road at Central Arkansas, was its third straight to begin Valley play and sees it maintain its top spot in the league table.

- Following his brace tonight, Collier now has a team-high four goals to his name this season.  The junior also found the back of the net twice as part of the Ramblers’ 4-0 win over Binghamton back on Sept. 11.

- Before adding Loyola’s third goal of the evening, Kraussel dished out his team-best seventh assist on Collier’s second tally.  That total currently leads the Valley and unofficially puts him in the top five nationally in the category.

- The Ramblers finished the night with a 20-11 edge in shots that was highlighted by a 10-2 advantage in shots on target.

 

Up Next

Loyola closes out a three-game road swing close to home on Tuesday afternoon as it makes the short trip south to Lincoln Park for a meeting with city-rival DePaul in the latest installment of the Red Line Rivalry.  Kickoff from Wish Field is slated for 3 p.m.

 

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