Oct. 14, 2005

Box Score

Senior Bill Metzger pounced on a loose ball and rocketed home the game-winner in the 95th minute as Loyola knocked off Butler, 2-1, tonight at Loyola Soccer Park. The Ramblers remain perfect in Horizon League play, improving to 5-5-2 overall (2-0 Horizon) while the Bulldogs drop to 9-4 (2-2).

"It was a battle out there tonight," said head coach Brendan Eitz. "Our guys worked extremely hard for this win and it was nice to see them get it. We are a fun team to watch when we fight and battle like warriors, as we did tonight."

In a tightly played first half, it was the hosts that finally opened the scoring after 29 minutes. A scramble in the box resulted in a loose ball and junior Javier Lopez pounced on it, notching his third goal of the season, giving Loyola a 1-0 lead which it would take into intermission.

Loyola absorbed a strong Butler start to the second half and just when it looked like it was beginning to control the tempo, Butler responded. John DeVae sent a warning that the Bulldogs would still be dangerous, streaking behind the Loyola defense and beating keeper Brad Sommer, only to see his shot ricochet off both posts to safety in the 63rd minute. However, it took less than three minutes for DeVae to correct things, taking advantage of a mistake in the back to tie the game in the 66th minute. Neither team was able to carve out any clear-cut chances during the remainder of regulation time, sending the match into overtime.

It was there where the Ramblers found the winner, as Steven Graner's throw-in eventually made its way to the foot of Lee Zarzecki, whose deflected shot went in and out of the grasp of Butler keeper Nick Hegeman and right to Metzger who buried the gamewinner, giving Loyola its first win over Butler since Sept. 29, 2000.

Loyola wraps up a difficult, three-match-in-five-day stretch on Sunday afternoon when it hosts UW-Green Bay at Loyola Soccer Park. Kick-off is slated for 2 p.m.