Aug. 27, 2006

Box Score

CHICAGO - Rambler midfielder Alex Jones (Downers Grove, Ill.) scored his first career goal 8:40 into the match but Loyola could not hold its lead at cross-town rival DePaul and lost, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Wish Field. Loyola dropped to 0-2 this season while DePaul improved to 1-1.

Scoring chances were scarce as both offenses were held to three shots on goal apiece.

Loyola took control of the match early by converting their first shot on goal just 8:40 into the match for the 1-0 advantage. Senior Steven Graner (Omaha, Neb.) launched a throw-in from the right sideline into the box and Jones was able to head the ball into the net. Jones' first goal as a Rambler came on his third-career shot. Graner's assist was the fifth of his career and first of the season.

DePaul needed little time to respond to Loyola's opening goal. Alex Mangan scored the first of his two goals in the match about two minutes later for a 1-1 tie that would last for the rest of the first half. Mangan then tallied the go-ahead goal in the second half at 65:02.

The Ramblers still enjoy a 15-10-1 advantage in the all-time series against the Blue Demons.

Loyola plays its first matches of the season outside of Chicago next weekend at the Davidson Adidas Classic in Davidson, N.C. The first match versus Charlotte kicks off at 4 p.m. on Friday. Saturday's match at Davidson kicks off at noon. Both matches are Loyola's first-ever meetings against the respective schools.