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CHICAGO - A goal in the first half by Ryan Howe and another shutout performance from the Rambler defense propelled the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos tonight at Loyola Soccer Park in the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton North Shore Chicago Classic. With the win, the Ramblers move to 2-0-0 on the season, while the Broncos fall to 0-2-1. It marks the first time that Loyola has opened a season with back-to-back wins since 2002.

"Tonight was a typical college soccer game," Loyola head men's soccer coach Neil Jones commented. "It wasn't the prettiest soccer we've ever seen. Western Michigan makes it very hard for you to break them down. They're a very solid defensive unit and very well coached. We got them on a little bit of a counter tonight. (Brian) Bement did a good job to wait for Howe to catch him then slipped a good ball and a great finish from Howe. It was a great defensive effort from us as well. Another shutout, which is great, and I thought the center backs really stepped up tonight with some great blocks."

It would be the visitors from Kalamazoo, Mich. who recorded the first chance for either team on a rainy evening on Chicago's north side. Goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski, fresh off being recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, corralled Sam Bell's attempt in the 3rd minute.

Loyola's only shot on goal in the first half was all it need to take the lead. Senior Brian Bement went on a long run as Loyola looked to catch Western Michigan on a counterattack. The Waterloo, Ill. product waited just long enough to find the arriving Howe who tucked his shot inside the far post from the edge of the 18-yard box to put Loyola on top in the 19th minute. Loyola's backline stepped up in a big way in the final 25 minutes of the opening stanza, limiting opportunities for a high-powered Broncos offense, as the Ramblers took a one-goal lead into the break.

Howe looked to smash home a second goal in the second half to give his team some breathing room but fired his attempt high in the 58th minute. Dobrowolski was called upon to make his first save of the second half in the 62nd minute. Brandon Bye had his first attempt blocked by a Rambler defender in the box. The rebound fell back to Bye, who unleashed a shot directly at the Loyola netminder that was saved. Bye found himself back in the mix again in the 77th minute when Dobrowolski denied him again off a headed attempt.

The Rambler defense continued to frustrate the Bronco attack as time began to tick away. A final chance came to Western Michigan's Jason Gant in the final 20 seconds of the game. Inside a packed 18-yard box, Gant forced his shot wide of the near post from 10 yards out, allowing Dobrowolski to send the ensuing goal kick long and seal a Loyola victory.

Loyola closes out play in the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton North Shore Chicago Classic on Sunday afternoon when the Ramblers take on Utah Valley. The game will be played at Northwestern University's Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill. at 2 p.m.