In Short…

Loyola scored three goals in a 1:25 span during the closes stages of the first half to create separation as it rolled over Binghamton, 4-0, this afternoon to capture the NIU Adidas Invitational title.  Today’s result from DeKalb, Ill. sees the Ramblers move to a perfect 5-0-0 for the first time in program history, while the Bearcats drop to 3-1-2.

 

Coach Jones’ Thoughts…

“I am very proud of how our team played today, especially after Binghamton came out with good energy and put us under some pressure.  We scored three quick goals at a critical time of the game, and that gave us plenty of confidence heading into the second half.  We now turn our attention to the ever challenging Missouri Valley Conference schedule, and begin with a very tough road test against the reigning champions.”

 

How It Happened

Chances were at a premium early on a perfect day for soccer in DeKalb.  Sophomore Alec Lasinski had a golden opportunity to put the Maroon & Gold on the board first in the seventh minute but skied his attempt from near the penalty spot.  Redshirt junior goalkeeper Andrew Chekadanov made his only stop of the afternoon 15 minutes later when he turned away Harrison Weilbacher’s attempt from just outside the 18-yard box.

 

Redshirt sophomore Grant Stoneman gave Loyola the spark it was searching for in the 37^th minute.  The Saint Charles, Ill. product, fresh off scoring the game winner in Friday’s upset of No. 12/8 Utah Valley, volleyed a cross from junior Brody Kraussel in at the far post from 15 yards out to put Loyola in front, 1-0. 

 

Kraussel doubled the lead just over a minute later, directing a feed from Lasinski in from two yards to make it 2-0.  Junior Elliot Collier took advantage of a Bearcat turnover on the ensuing restart and rifled a shot past Alejandro Cubillo, the Binghamton netminder, to send the Ramblers racing into the intermission with a commanding 3-0 lead.

 

Loyola put to rest any hopes of a Binghamton comeback only eight minutes into the second stanza.  Redshirt senior Ryan Howe delivered a corner kick into the box that connected with a leaping Collier, who headed under the crossbar from the edge of the six-yard box to up the Loyola lead to 4-0 in the 54^th minute.  The Hamilton, New Zealand product came within inches of his first career hat trick with under 20 minutes to play in regulation, only to be denied by the crossbar as the Ramblers settled for a comprehensive 4-0 win.

 

Looking At The Numbers

- Today marked Loyola’s first four-goal outburst since a 4-1 victory at Eastern Illinois on Sept. 13, 2013.

- After scoring 19 goals during all of the 2015 campaign, Loyola finds itself just six tallies short of that total with 13 goals through the first five games of this season.

- The Rambler defense allowed Binghamton just four shots all afternoon en route to collecting its fourth consecutive shutout.  Loyola has now held opposing teams scoreless for 374 consecutive minutes.

- For his efforts on the weekend, which included two game winning goals, Stoneman was named the Most Valuable Player of the NIU Adidas Invitational.  He was joined on the event’s All-Tournament Team by the junior trio of Collier, Kraussel and Kyle Thomson.

 

Up Next

Loyola closes out a three-game swing away from home on Saturday night when it opens Missouri Valley Conference play against Drake, the league’s defending tournament champion, in Des Moines, Iowa.  Kickoff from the Cownie Soccer Complex is set for 7 p.m.

 

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