Final Stats

CHICAGO - For the second time this week, the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team held a substantial advantage in shots but was unable to find the back of the net as it played Northern Illinois to a scoreless draw in double overtime tonight at Loyola Soccer Park. The Ramblers move to 4-3-2 with the result, while the Huskies now sit at 2-4-4 overall.

"Tonight was another very solid performance from our team," Loyola head men's soccer coach Neil Jones commented. "NIU is always a very tough opponent so I was pleased that we limited them to only four shots throughout the game. Offensively, we need to be sharper in the final third to convert the chances we create. Our players and coaches will continue to work hard this week in preparation for a difficult road test at Drake next Saturday."

Loyola looked to grab control of the game from the first whistle on a cold and windy night on Chicago's North Side. The Ramblers generated five corner kicks in the game's opening five minutes but were unable to convert on any of them. Brody Kraussel had a great opportunity to put the Maroon & Gold on top in the 10th minute when he pulled his shot just wide of goal.

Both sides struggled to find opportunities as the half wore on. Things picked up just five minutes before halftime as Loyola looked to catch Northern Illinois on a counterattack in the 42nd minute. Daniel Hare found a streaking Ben Crognale out on the flank. The senior out of Gahanna, Ohio played a perfect through ball to Brian Bement but the Waterloo, Ill. native was unable to get all that he wanted on his attempt and had it deflected away by Andrew Glaeser, the Husky goalkeeper. Seconds later, Kraussel was at it again when he ripped a daring attempt from 20 yards out, only for Glaeser to make a leaping save by tipping the shot over the bar to ensure that the game headed to halftime scoreless.

Jayson LeSeth looked to put the visitors from DeKalb, Ill. on top in the 57th minute when his blast got by an outstretched Tim Dobrowolski but sailed wide of the far post, keeping the game knotted up at 0-0. Loyola had its best chance of the evening fall to it in the 63rd minute when, following a free kick from the top of the arc, Kyle Thomson and Hare each had the attempts stopped by only the crossbar. Despite the bit of bad luck, Loyola pressed on in search of a breakthrough goal. John Cappuccitti had a golden opportunity to score a late winner in the 83rd minute when Kraussel found his fellow freshman unmarked inside the 18-yard box. The Mount Prospect, Ill. native settled the ball but sailed his shot high of goal as the two in-state rivals headed for overtime.

After a first extra session that featured no shots on goal for either team, Loyola had its chances in the second overtime. Andrew Raymonds nearly sent the crowd home happy but had his one-timer stoned by Glaeser in the 101st minute. Kraussel suffered the same fate as his senior teammate just over a minute later as neither team could find a golden goal before time expired.

Loyola returns to action next Saturday night, Oct. 11, when it travels to Des Moines, Iowa to take on the Drake Bulldogs at 7 p.m.