Nov. 22, 2008
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Loyola men's soccer team saw its 2008 season come to a close Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, as No. 17 Northwestern defeated the Ramblers, 4-1 in penalty kicks at Lakeside Field. Loyola finishes the season at 12-6-4, while the Wildcats (13-4-3) advance to the second round to face 12th-seeded Notre Dame next Tuesday.
The temperature at the start of the game was listed at a generous 20 degrees, but the cold weather did not seem to influence the Loyola offense much in the early going, as the Ramblers were able to create numerous scoring opportunities in the first half. Senior Keum Sung Kim and junior Mark Halma both fired off shots midway through the opening period that required stellar saves from Northwestern goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal and teammates, while Loyola defenders and goalkeeper Brian Byrne were just as impressive on their end with two difficult saves as well.
Loyola held a 6-3 shot advantage at the break, but Northwestern would control possession for the remainder of regulation and both overtime periods, producing seven second half shots and one in each overtime, while allowing just one shot in the second half and another in the first overtime to the Ramblers.
Scoreless after 110 minutes of play, a shootout would determine which team would advance to the second round. Northwestern's Jack Hillgard stepped up first and fired in his first shot of the day to put the Wildcats up 1-0. Sophomore Chris Mills attempted to even the score, but could not get past a diving Rosenthal, while Matt Eliason followed with success to increase the advantage to 2-0. Mark Blades' shot to the corner found the back of the net, after Kim had hit the post, to put Northwestern up 3-0. Junior Eric Gehrig notched Loyola's lone score, but Brian Usinger responded with a goal of his own to seal the victory for the Wildcats.
Gehrig and Kim led the offensive effort with three shots each, while the duo and Halma also recorded all three of Loyola's shots on goal. Byrne extended his single-season shutout record with his 12th of the year and also increased his career shutouts record to 22, while the team recorded its 13th overall shutout, also a new program record.
Though obviously disappointed, Loyola head coach Brendan Eitz was proud of his team's effort and performance. "It was an honor to be a part of a match that meant so much and was played at the highest level," Eitz said. "We had some great chances, but we just couldn't get any through. Northwestern played a great game and I think they'll do well down the road."
" I'd like to thank our seniors (Byrne, Kim, Lubo Boris, Reed Cataldo, Kevin Harrigan, Matt Kilday, Tanner Krause, Zach Lewis, Tim Puttkammer, Brad Sommer)," Eitz added, "they've had the most successful four years in program history."
This was Loyola's second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, with the first coming in 2006. The Ramblers lost in the first round, 1-0 in overtime to Northern Illinois.
