Aug. 16, 2014
Loyola/Michigan Final Statistics
CHICAGO - A valiant effort from the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team fell just short today as the Ramblers dropped their first of three exhibition games, 2-1, to the Michigan Wolverines at Loyola Soccer Park. Ryan Howe tallied the lone Rambler goal from the penalty spot.
"Overall today was a great exercise for our squad," Loyola head men's soccer coach Neil Jones said. "Preseason is all about building towards our first regular season game against Dayton. We created some excellent chances today and had a few great opportunities to tie the game late. Overall, as a staff, we are only concerned about making progress at this time of the year and we definitely did that today."
Both teams were able to generate opportunities on a warm and humid August afternoon in Rogers Park. New Zealand import Elliot Collier, making his first appearance for the Maroon & Gold, posted the first shot of the game for either team when he fired wide of the near post after a delivery from senior Brian Bement with just under fifteen minutes gone. Ten minutes later, Michigan's Tyler Arnone, a reigning First Team All-Big Ten selection, converted from the penalty spot after a Loyola foul in the box to give the Wolverines a 1-0 advantage.
In a similar occurrence to when the two teams played to open the regular season in 2013, the Ramblers were able to respond and level the game at 1-1 before halftime. Freshman John Cappuccitti was brought down inside the 18-yard box by an onrushing Adam Grinwis, the Michigan goalkeeper, drawing a whistle from the head official. Howe stepped up and calmly slotted his penalty kick by Grinwis to send the two teams to their respective locker rooms deadlocked. Loyola more than held its own in the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the visitors from Ann Arbor, Mich. by a count of 4-2.
Michigan came back from the intermission and wasted little time in taking back its lead. Rylee Woods put a shot by Tim Dobrowolski at the far post to put the Maize & Blue back on top, 2-1, in the 47th minute. Dobrowolski, a junior out of Rockford, Ill., settled down, denying William Mellos-Blair's shot four minutes later. Senior Zac Brown entered the game in goal for the Ramblers in the 61st minute and didn't have to wait long to record his first stop. The St. Paul, Minn. product turned away Arnone's bid for a second goal in the 69th minute to keep Loyola within striking distance.
The Ramblers refused to go away, continuing to pressure for an equalizer as time ticked down. Eric Schoendorf unleashed a blast from 20 yards out in the 73rd minute but Evan Louro, who was substituted in at goalkeeper for the Wolverines to begin the half, punched away his attempt. Loyola would generate a late corner in the game's closing seconds, forcing a fine save out of Louro beforehand, but was unable to put home a loose ball in the box before time expired.
The Ramblers return to action on Monday evening when the University of Chicago Maroons make the short trip up from Hyde Park. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. from Loyola Soccer Park.
