In Short…
The Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team battled host Drake to a 0-0 draw in double overtime this afternoon at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. The result sees the Ramblers move to 4-5-2 overall (0-3-1 MVC), while the Bulldogs now sit at 3-8-1 (0-3-1 MVC).
How It Happened
Drake came out attacking as it looked for an early goal to jumpstart its offensive attack. Freshman goalkeeper
Evan Konermann, making his second consecutive start between the pipes for the Maroon & Gold, registered his first of five first-half stops in the fourth minute when he collected Aleksi Tuominen's attempt. Konermann came up big again shortly after, turning away Mason Leonard and Leroy Enzugusi, respectively, over a four-minute span.
The freshman goalkeeper continued to keep the Bulldogs at bay as Loyola looked to find its rhythm in the offensive third. With 30 seconds remaining in the opening stanza, freshman
Tyler Biggs, who was substituted on just six minutes earlier, unleashed a shot that forced a stop out of Caden McCullough, the Drake netminder, as the two sides headed to halftime knotted up at 0-0.
Both sides struggled to generate chances in a foul-filled opening 15 minutes of the second half. Gabe Edel fired wide of goal for the hosts off of a corner kick by Paul Ciszewski in the 65
th minute. Loyola earned a pair of corner kicks in the 78
th minute but was unable to take advantage of either. Sophomore
Marius Kullmann looked to find a late winner in regulation, only to have his shot collected by McCullough to force overtime.
The two extra sessions saw both teams' goalkeepers step up to make stops. McCullough deflected away an attempt by junior
Fabian Lifka with time winding down in the first extra session. Lifka would again test the Bulldog netminder to no avail a minute into the second overtime. Konermann added his final stop of the afternoon in the 108
th minute as the game ended scoreless.
Looking At The Numbers
- Despite being outshot on the day by a final margin of 11-4, Loyola put all four of its attempts on target.
- Lifka led the attack on the offensive end with a pair of shots.
- Konermann turned in his second strong outing in goal in as many games, finishing with a game-high six saves, en route to his first collegiate shutout.
Up Next
Loyola wraps up a two-game road trip next Saturday (Oct. 14) as it takes on Evansville at 5 p.m.
