Final Stats

MADISON, Wis. - A Ben Crognale goal in the opening minute of the first half helped the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team claim a draw this evening, 1-1, in double overtime against Wisconsin at the McClimon Complex in Madison, Wis. The result sees Loyola move to 4-4-3 (1-1-0 Missouri Valley), while the Badgers now sit at 2-8-2 (0-4-0 Big Ten).

"Tonight was a very hard fought game between two teams who obviously wanted to win, but also played to win," Loyola head men's soccer coach Neil Jones commented. "We defended well for the most part against some top notch attacking players. Offensively we created enough to win the game but just couldn't quite make the final play. Now we prepare for a big home conference matchup on Saturday against a quality Missouri State team."

The Maroon & Gold wasted little time in jumping in front on a cool, overcast night in Wisconsin's capital city. Crognale was on the receiving end of a service from Kirill Likhovid that the senior out of Gahanna, Ohio slammed past Adrian Remeniuk, the Badger goalkeeper, from six yards out to give Loyola a 1-0 lead with only 48 seconds gone. Brian Hail looked to draw the hosts level three minutes later but Andrew Chekadanov, making the first starting appearance of his career in goal for the Ramblers, turned away his attempt.

Wisconsin continued to ask questions of the Loyola netminder and found a goal to knot the game up in the 18th minute when Tom Barlow tipped the ball into the back after a flurry in front of the goal. Crognale's attempt for a second goal was denied by Remeniuk in the 25th minute. That proved to be Loyola's final shot of the half as the two teams headed to their respective locker rooms locked up at 1-1.

Milwaukee, Wis. native Brody Kraussel made a bid to put Loyola back on top in the 51st minute but his shot sailed high of goal. The Ramblers continued to generate the better of the chances between the two sides as the half progressed, with Daniel Hare and Crognale each notching shots in the 55th and 59th minutes, respectively. It took the Badgers until the 70th minute to record their first attempt of the half as Hail was denied again by Chekadanov.

Hare came as close as any Rambler would during the second stanza in the 77th minute when his shot beat Remeniuk, only to be kept out of the back of the net by the post. Neither team could muster another shot on goal for the remainder of regulation as Loyola headed into overtime for a sixth-straight contest.

Both teams had their chances to find a game-winner during the extra sessions. Andrew Raymonds headed high of goal in the 91st minute. Segbers nearly sent the Badger faithful home happy in the 96th minute but, like Hare, was denied by the post. Barlow thought he had won it in the 105th minute for Wisconsin when he found the back of the net. The goal was disallowed due to the offside flag going up. Chekadanov made his fourth and final save of the evening in the 108th minute, securing the Ramblers their first result against a Big Ten opponent since a 2-2 stalemate with Michigan State back on Oct. 3, 2001.

Loyola steps back into conference play this Saturday night when it hosts the Missouri State Bears. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Loyola Soccer Park.