Loyola/Michigan Final Statistics

CHICAGO - Connor Stevenson found the back of the net for the second time in three games as the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw with Michigan today at Loyola Soccer Park in the final game of its three-game exhibition slate. The Ramblers close out the preseason at 1-0-2, while Michigan moves to 1-0-1.

"Today we got a good result in front of a fantastic crowd," Loyola head men's soccer coach Neil Jones said. "Michigan is a very good team with a lot of weapons, especially up front. In the first half, I thought we played well and were rewarded with a goal. We made some changes in the second half and at one point had five freshmen on the field. We now look forward to a tough test out in California next weekend."

Both teams looked to be feeling each other out in the game's opening five minutes in front of a crowd of over 700 on a beautiful day for soccer in Rogers Park. Michigan recorded the game's first two attempts, firing wide twice in the sixth and 11th minutes, respectively. Sophomore Elliot Collier looked to get the Rambler attack moving as the half progressed. The Hamilton, New Zealand native found space on the left side in the 14th minute, forcing a save out of Michigan goalkeeper Evan Louro. Kevin Engesser came close to putting Loyola on the board ten minutes later when, following a great feed from freshman Fabian Lifka, the junior raced into the box only for Louro to step up and make a sprawling save to keep the game scoreless.

Loyola kept asking questions of the Michigan backline and was rewarded in the 28th minute. Stevenson, out of Woodbury, Minn., collected a bouncing ball inside the Michigan 18-yard box after a punt from Loyola goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski. The freshman, who scored against Milwaukee seven days ago, tucked his shot inside the far post to give the Ramblers a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. Along with its lead on the scoreboard, Loyola held a 6-3 advantage in shots during the opening 45 minutes.

Each team made a handful of changes to begin the second half, with the visitors from Ann Arbor, Mich. coming out on the front foot in search of an equalizing tally. The Wolverines recorded a handful of attempts but were unable to threaten the Loyola goal. Things changed in the 65th minute when a cross from Ivo Cerda found William Mellos-Blair in the box. Blair unleashed a low volley that snuck past Dobrowolski to even the game at 1-1.

With the half entering its middle stages, the physical tone that was established early on only amplified, with the two teams combining for four yellow cards in the second half. Loyola's defense stepped up to fight off a pair of Wolverine corner kicks in the 76th minute, keeping the game knotted up. The final shot of the afternoon for either team came in the 89th minute when Kyle Thomson made a bid for a late winner, only for his attempt to be blocked away as the game ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

With its preseason schedule now complete, Loyola can turn its attention to a pair of games against Big West Conference opponents in California to open the 2015 regular season. The Ramblers will take on UC Irvine on Friday night (Aug. 28) at 9 p.m. (CT) before wrapping up the weekend against Cal State Northridge on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. (CT).