In Short…
Senior Kyle Thomson and junior Connor Stevenson both found the back of the net as the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team played to a 2-2 draw with Milwaukee this evening in the exhibition opener for both teams at Loyola Soccer Park.
 
How It Happened
Junior Fabian Lifka nearly put the Ramblers on top inside three minutes when his free kick from the edge of the box sailed just over the bar.  Thomson forced a leaping save out of Freddy Lorenzen, who started in goal for the Panthers in the first half, in the 19^th minute before Lifka's ensuing corner kick was cleared away.
 
A Loyola turnover provided Milwaukee with its first scoring chance of the day in the 39^th minute.  Nick Moon raced into the box and calmly slotted his attempt in at the far post to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.  That lead would be short lived as Thomson cashed in on a free kick from near the edge of the arc with only eight seconds remaining to the knot the score up at 1-1 entering the intermission.
 
Greg Baxa, who entered in goal for Milwaukee following halftime, came up with a pair of crucial saves to keep things level early on the second half.  Sophomore Chase Wright saw his deflected attempt fall to the Panther netminder in the 50^th minute before redshirt junior Jordan Valentic-Holden's try was parried away shortly after.
 
The junior pairing of Stevenson and Ryan Walker would team up for the Ramblers' second tally of the day.  Walker forced a turnover in Milwaukee's third of the field before feeding a sprinting Stevenson.  The Woodbury, Minn. placed his try between Baxa's legs to put Loyola in front, 2-1, in the 73^rd minute. 
 
As was the case with the Panther lead in the first half, a response came quickly as Vuk Latinovich sent a bouncing free kick from 35 yards into the box that found its way in at the far post to tie the game at 2-2 in the 80^th minute.  A last-ditch attempt by freshman Christopher White with time ticking down went just wide of goal as the two former Horizon League rivals settled for a 2-2 stalemate.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Loyola finished with a 10-5 advantage in shots and put five of their attempts on target. 
- The Ramblers also owned a staggering 11-1 edge in corner kicks.
- Play was physical throughout the day as the two teams combined for 25 fouls.
- Today's result marked Loyola's third-straight exhibition season-opening draw.
 
Up Next
Loyola continues its exhibition slate on Tuesday afternoon when it visits DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois at 3 p.m.