In Short…

Redshirt sophomore Grant Stoneman scored his third goal in as many games to help lead the Loyola University Chicago men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over Drake this evening in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams.  Tonight’s result from the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines, Iowa sees Loyola move to a perfect 6-0-0 (1-0-0 MVC) on the season, while the Bulldogs fall to 3-4-0 (0-1-0 MVC).

 

Coach Jones’ Thoughts…

“As a coaching staff we couldn’t be prouder of our team’s effort and performance tonight.  Road wins in the MVC are extremely tough to earn and Drake made us earn those three points tonight.  Now it’s back to work to prepare for a very talented and well coached SIUE team on Saturday.”

 

How It Happened

Following a feeling out process in the opening minutes, both teams began to generate chances.  Junior Brody Kraussel notched the first shot on target of the game in the 12^th minute and was denied by Darrin MacLeod, the Drake goalkeeper.  Redshirt junior netminder Andrew Chekadanov was called into action shortly after when he dealt with Nic Jaimes’ shot inside the 18-yard box.  Sophomore Alec Lasinski looked to have put the Maroon & Gold on top when he headed a corner kick from redshirt senior Ryan Howe on target, only for it to be cleared off the line by the Drake defense.

 

Loyola continued to attack as Howe forced a fingertip save out of MacLeod in the 22^nd minute.  Slowly but surely, Drake looked to find its rhythm in the offensive third.  Chekadanov turned away a try from distance by Mueng Sunday in the 32^nd minute before Ryan Merideth headed just over the crossbar from inside the box three minutes after.  Sunday came close again in the 37^th minute, hooking his attempt just wide as the two teams headed to halftime locked up at 0-0.

 

Lasinski came close again shortly after the intermission when his shot from inside the box rung off the crossbar in the 51^st minute.  Howe and Kraussel each fired on goal shortly thereafter but MacLeod was up to the task as he kept the game scoreless.  Both sides were brought down to 10 men in the early stages of the 81^st minute when Howe and Drake’s James Pendreigh were shown straight red cards. 

 

With time ticking away, Loyola amped up its pressure in search of a late winner.  That magic moment arrived in the 86^th minute when Kraussel played a short corner to senior Kirill Likhovid.  He sent the ball into the box and connected with a leaping Stoneman, who headed in at the far post to put the Ramblers on top, 1-0.  Loyola would not allow Drake another attempt the rest of the way as it closed out a crucial road win to begin conference play.

 

Looking At The Numbers

- This evening’s victory was Loyola’s first in program history at Drake.

- Stoneman’s deciding goal came on the redshirt sophomore’s only attempt of the evening.

- Likhovid and Kraussel each picked up their fifth assist of the season tonight. The duo shares the team lead in the category.

- Not to be overlooked is the continued strong play of Loyola’s defensive unit.  The Ramblers recorded their fifth consecutive shutout tonight and have now kept their opponents off the scoreboard for 464 consecutive minutes.

 

Up Next

Loyola returns home for the first time in nearly three weeks next Saturday night when it hosts SIU-Edwardsville, the Valley’s defending regular season champion.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Loyola Soccer Park.

 

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