Final Stats

CHICAGO - Freshman Connor Stevenson scored his second goal of the season with just under four minutes remaining in the second half to help the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team to a 1-1 draw with Drake in double overtime this evening at Loyola Soccer Park. The result, which sees Loyola complete a second consecutive unbeaten season at home, moves the Ramblers to 9-3-4 overall (2-1-2 MVC), while the Bulldogs now sit at 9-4-2 (3-1-1 MVC).

"They (Drake) came out with a lot of energy tonight in the first 15 to 20 minutes," Loyola head men's soccer coach Neil Jones commented. "They really got after us a little bit and didn't sit back. After that, we were able to get the game going and made a few adjustments. In the second half, we were banging on the door for a while and Connor Stevenson finally finished one with about three and a half minutes left. Unfortunately we couldn't find a winner in overtime. Now we head down to take on a very good SIUE team next weekend."

Following an emotional ceremony that saw Loyola honor its six-member senior class prior to kickoff, both teams struggled to generate chances in the opening quarter of an hour. Sophomore Brody Kruassel sent a cross into the box in the 20th minute that connected with junior Kevin Engesser, who saw his headed attempt collected by Darrin MacLeod, the Drake goalkeeper.

Just over five minutes later, the Bulldogs' Kyle Whigham unleashed a screaming one-timer that found its way through a bevy of traffic in front of the net en route to sneaking in at the far post, giving Drake a 1-0 lead. The goal was the first that Loyola had allowed in over 686 minutes of play. Senior goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski came up with a stop in the 38th minute to keep the deficit at one headed into halftime.

Loyola looked to come out with renewed energy to begin the second half, controlling the fair share of possession early on. Despite seeming to grab a foothold on the game, chances were still at a premium for the Maroon & Gold. Redshirt senior Ben Crognale nearly guided a corner kick from sophomore Kyle Thomson in at the near post in the 79th minute, firing just high.

With time beginning to run out, Loyola found its breakthrough in the 87th minute. Engesser controlled possession near the penalty spot, battling a Bulldog defender, before leaving the ball off for Stevenson. The freshman out of Woodbury, Minn. one-touched his way around a defender before firing a one-timer just under the crossbar to level the game at 1-1 and send the two conference rivals to overtime.

The two extra sessions featured end-to-end action. Stevenson made a bid for a brace in the 94th minute, heading high of goal, before MacLeod got just enough of Kraussel's attempt in the 99th minute to keep the game alive. With the Ramblers beginning to pin the visitors from Des Moines, Iowa back in their own third as the second overtime began, Mueng Sunday looked to catch Loyola on a counter but fired well over the crossbar in the 106th minute. A last-ditch attempt from sophomore Elliot Collier as time expired sailed high as the game ended all square at 1-1.

Loyola will wrap up the 2015 regular season on the road next Saturday when it takes on preseason league favorite SIU-Edwardsville. Kickoff from Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, Ill. is scheduled for 7 p.m.