In Short…
Senior
Kyle Thomson found the back of the net from the penalty spot as the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team played to a physical 1-1 draw in double overtime with city rival UIC this evening at Loyola Soccer Park. The result sees the Ramblers move to 4-5-1 overall (0-3-0 MVC), while the Flames now sit at 4-5-2 (2-2-0 Horizon League).
How It Happened
Freshman goalkeeper
Evan Konermann, making his first collegiate start, came up with a pair of early stops as he turned away Markell Saddler and Jesus Perez, respectively, to keep things scoreless. Junior
Fabian Lifka recorded Loyola's first attempt of the night in the 20
th minute, pushing his headed attempt just wide of the near post. Chances would prove to be at a premium moving forward in the opening 45 minutes with neither team able to break the deadlock.
Loyola was presented with a golden opportunity to get on the board in the 56
th minute as junior
Alec Lasinski and UIC goalkeeper Sawyer Jackman collided in the box, with the referee ultimately showing a yellow card to Jackman and awarding the Ramblers a penalty kick. Thomson stepped up and calmly slotted home to put the Maroon & Gold in front, 1-0.
With time running out in regulation, the Flames began to push forward. Oscar Gonzalez forced a stop out of Konermann just past the hour mark before Jesus Perez's free kick from a dangerous position floated wide of goal. Gonzalez would pull the visitors from the west side level in the 77
th minute when he sent a free kick into the box that skipped in at the far post to even the score up at 1-1. A last-ditch headed effort from Lasinski with time winding down was parried away by Jackman to force overtime.
Both netminders came up with terrific stops early in the first extra session. Jackman deflected away an uncontested look from sophomore
Chase Wright, while Konermann stoned Alex Cervantes' header just a minute after. A UIC foul inside the 18-yard box with only 14 seconds remaining in the first overtime provided Loyola a chance to put the game away but Jackman came up big again as he dove to deny senior Elliot Collier's penalty kick. Konerman would add one final save in the second overtime as the two city rivals settled for a 1-1 draw.
Looking At The Numbers
- Tonight's results extends Loyola's unbeaten run over UIC to five games (4-0-1).
- Neither team was shy about taking chances as UIC finished with a slim 19-15 edge in shots.
- Thomson notched his team-leading third goal of the season during the second half.
- Konermann turned in an impressive effort in his first starting assignment, finishing the night with five saves.
- As noted earlier, the game took on a physical tone from the onset as the two teams combined for 37 fouls and six yellow cards.
Up Next
Loyola opens up a two-game Missouri Valley Conference road swing on Saturday evening when it takes on Drake at 7 p.m. in Des Moines, Iowa.
