Oct. 2, 2013
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
CHICAGO - Two goals in the final fifteen minutes of the second half were enough to carry DePaul to a 2-0 win over the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team tonight at Loyola Soccer Park. With its victory, the Blue Demons extended their unbeaten run over the Ramblers to six games.
"I think we played pretty well, especially in the second half," commented Loyola head men's soccer coach Neil Jones. "We had a lot of good periods of play and possession along with some good services from wide areas but we were unable to take advantage of the chances we had. It's unfortunate but we'll move on."
On a mild fall night in Rogers Park, it would be DePaul's Kevin Beyer who recorded the first shot on target for either side. Junior Zac Brown, making the first start of his Loyola career in goal, punched Beyer's attempt over his crossbar in the fourth minute to keep the game level. Brown was called on once again, less than a minute later, to deny Koray Yesilli's header.
Senior Max Van Houten tallied Loyola's lone shot of the opening 45 minutes when he fired wide of the DePaul net in the 27th minute. Despite being outshot 7-1, including 4-0 on goal, Loyola found itself level with its Red Line rival from Lincoln Park when the halftime whistle sounded.
Following another Brown save to open the second half, the Ramblers were finally able to break through the DePaul defense and test goalkeeper Eric Sorby. Sorby stopped sophomore Jake Savino's shot in the 60th minute. Senior Enrique Garcia had an uncontested look at the DePaul goal mere seconds later but, like Savino, could only watch as Sorby made another fine save to keep the game scoreless.
Kyle Gustafson scored what would be the game-winning goal in the 74th minute. Gufstafson, who was booked by the lead official just ten minutes earlier, headed a cross from Jared Blincow past Brown and inside the far post to give the Blue Demons a 1-0 lead. Erik Rodriguez doubled the DePaul advantage in the closing minutes when he rifled a shot into the back of the net following a delivery from Pat Flynn.
The Ramblers, refusing to give up, continued to pressure in the final sixty seconds of play. Junior Andrew Raymonds had a shot blocked in the box prior to fellow junior Brian Bement's shot ringing off the crossbar. Bement's attempt proved to be the final opportunity of the game for either side as the game ended with a final score of 2-0.
The Ramblers will now look forward to their first Missouri Valley Conference game this weekend. Loyola will travel to Springfield, Mo. to face Missouri State on Saturday night at 6 p.m. in the conference opener for both sides.
