Loyola/Marquette Final Statistics

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Freshman Alec Lasinski scored with just over 15 minutes remaining in the second half and redshirt sophomore Andrew Chekadanov posted a clean sheet in goal as the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team defeated Marquette, 1-0, at Valley Fields in Milwaukee, Wis. With the win, the Ramblers improve to 1-0-1 in exhibition play, while the Golden Eagles slip to 0-1-1.

"Tonight was an all around team effort that ended with a positive result," Loyola head men's soccer coach Neil Jones said following the final whistle. "Marquette is a quality team with excellent individual players and very good coaching. Ultimately, the game came down to us being able to soak up some pressure from them in the first half, and finish off a good sequence in the second half. I'm proud of the guys because this time of year is about taking steps forward and we did that tonight."

After a feeling out process in the game's opening 10 minutes, the hosts generated the evening's first chance when Daniel Szczepanek forced a save out of Chekadanov in the 11th minute. Chekadanov, making his preseason debut, was called into action again just six minutes later when he turned away a try from Louis Bennett II to keep the game scoreless early on.

Sophomore Elliot Collier looked to spark the Rambler attack in the 25th minute when his shot was blocked away by the Marquette defense. Junior Kevin Engesser came close to putting the Maroon & Gold in front shortly thereafter when his headed attempt off a corner kick went just over the bar. Chekadanov made his third and final save of the opening stanza in the 44th minute on another Bennett shot as the game headed to halftime in a scoreless deadlock.

Both teams struggled to find their footing to begin the second half, with Loyola generating the frame's first corner kick in the 61st minute. Marquette looked to press for an opening goal as the half entered its middle stages. Toby Howell had a shot blocked in the 64th minute before a Marquette corner was cleared away by the Loyola defense in the 70th.

As was the case in Saturday's exhibition opener with Milwaukee, a member of Loyola's freshman class found the back of the net with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. Lasinski, out of Ann Arbor, Mich., pounded a loose ball in the box past Marquette netminder Brady Walsh to give the Ramblers a 1-0 lead in the 75th minute. The Ramblers' defensive unit held the Golden Eagles without a shot on goal for the remainder of the second half as Loyola claimed its first victory of the preseason.

Loyola wraps up its three-game exhibition slate when it hosts Michigan on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. from Loyola Soccer Park.