In Short…
UIC emerges victorious, 2-1, in the schools' annual cross-town battle. RS-senior Grant Stoneman scored the Ramblers' tally, increasing his team lead to three goals on the season.
 
Coach Jones' Thoughts
"I give full credit to UIC, and would like to thank their coaching staff, their facilities crew and administrators for being able to put this game on and [managing] the delay," head coach Neil Jones said. "In the game, full credit to UIC as well. They worked very hard, they earned their goals and we didn't do a good enough job on both ends of the field tonight to win a Division I game against a very good team."
 
How It Happened
Tyler Biggs got the match's first shot on goal in the third minute when the Ohio native uncorked a bullet from 18 yards into the keeper's hands. Fabian Lifka got a shot blocked just outside of the box approximately 45 seconds later to round out the Ramblers' chances within the first 10 minutes.
 
In a tale of two corner kicks, UIC struck first with a goal on a 24^th minute corner kick. The Ramblers answered in the 26^th minute when Grant Stoneman registered another header goal off a Lifka corner, tying the match and giving Stoneman his third goal and sixth point of the season.
 
The last minute of the first half saw back-and-forth action in each side of the field, capped off by a UIC shot that sailed high as time expired.
 
After an hour weather delay, Josh Lagudah opened the second half with his second save of the match – a diving stop on a hot shot ticketed for the top corner. UIC took advantage of their next opportunity and retook the lead by cashing in on a wide cross opportunity in the 57^th minute to go up 2-1.
 
UIC's Jesus Perez was issued his second yellow card in the 76^th minute, resulting in a red card and an ejection – giving Loyola a man-advantage for the remainder of the match. In the 88^th minute, the Ramblers had back-to-back shots on goal from Alec Lasinski and Vasco Cardoso from about five yards out, but the Flames keeper was in position to make the saves and keep his team in the lead.
 
Oskar Gustafsson added one more shot on goal in the 90^th minute, but it was kept out of the net and UIC held on to win the match 2-1.
 
A Look At The Numbers
-Grant Stoneman's 26^th minute goal was his third of the season to tie his single-season career high. He now sits at six points, one shy of his 2016 total.
-One of two Rambler shots on goal in the first half found the back of the net. Loyola added four more after the break to hold the edge over UIC, 6-4 in shots on goal.
-Tyler Biggs posted season highs in shots (3) and shots on goal (2).
-Defender Oskar Gustafsson pitched in two shots for the second consecutive match. He has now gone three straight contests with at least one shot.
 
Up Next
Loyola returns to Missouri Valley Conference play on Saturday (Sept. 29) for a road trip against the Bradley Braves. First kick is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will serve as the second of three away matches on the current road stretch.