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Loyola University Chicago Athletics

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Men's Soccer Celebration
Steve Woltmann
1
Drake University DU (4-2-0, 1-1-0 MVC)
2
Winner Loyola Chicago LOY (4-2-1, 1-0-1 MVC)
Drake University DU
(4-2-0, 1-1-0 MVC)
1
Final
2
Loyola Chicago LOY
(4-2-1, 1-0-1 MVC)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT-2 F
Drake University DU 0 1 0 1
Loyola Chicago LOY 1 0 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Ender’s Golden Goal Seals Loyola’s 2-1 Win Over Drake In Alumni Night Thriller

Sophomore scores first collegiate goal as Ramblers pick up first MVC win of 2021

In Short…
Sophomore Lukas Ender headed home a rebound in the 97th minute of play to punctuate a 2-1 overtime victory for the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team over Drake (4-2-0, 1-1-0 MVC) this evening on Alumni Night at Loyola Soccer Park.  Tonight's thrilling win extends the Ramblers' unbeaten run to three games and moves them to 4-2-1 overall (1-0-1 MVC).
 
Head Coach Neil Jones' Thoughts…
"That's a huge three points for us.  A lot of credit goes to Drake for never giving in and scoring a late equalizer.  We should've been better in the second half.  I thought we could have gotten a second goal, but, ultimately, that's three Missouri Valley Conference points that are very important and I'm really happy with the win."
 
How It Happened
After a cagey opening 20 minutes that saw both sides struggle to break down one another, Loyola found the night's opening goal through the duo of senior Fabian Becerra and freshman Benni Hofmann.  Hofmann sent a cross towards the back post that found a leaping Becerra, who headed inside the post to put Loyola in front, 1-0.
 
Both goalkeepers were called upon to make saves before halftime.  Just in front of the half-hour mark, freshman John Gates broke free for a one-on-one opportunity against Drake netminder Jared Brown, who parried away Gates' try to keep the Bulldogs within one.  Graduate student goalkeeper Marcel Kampman notched his first stop of the night four minutes later, collecting Absalom Solorio's effort as Loyola took a 1-0 edge into the break.
 
Jaffer Murphy came within inches of putting Drake back on level terms just six minutes into the second half, pulling his attempt off a Louis Yuill corner kick wide of goal.  Brown came up with a crucial stop in the 64th minute, turning away Ender from close range off a Hofmann corner to keep the margin at one.
 
After seeing Kampman notch a pair of key stops during the middle stages of the second stanza, Drake cashed in off a set piece in the 83rd minute.  Solorio lofted a corner kick into the box that was nodded into the back of the net by TC Anderson, knotting the game up at 1-1.  Loyola had a pair of chances to end it in regulation, but senior Billy Hency fired wide of goal in the 87th minute, while junior Oscar Dueso saw his headed effort collected by Brown shortly after as the two Valley rivals moved into overtime to settle it. 
 
The night's magic moment came with just over three minutes to play in the first extra session.  Following a Drake foul, Hofmann sent a free kick towards the face of goal that was headed off the crossbar by junior Marc Torrellas.  The resulting rebound fell perfectly to Ender, as the sophomore headed in at the back post to put the game away and set off a wild celebration. 
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Ender's game-winner marked the first collegiate goal for the Kempten, Germany product.
- Becerra tallied his first goal of the season in the first half. 
- Hofmann was credited with assists on both goals, while Torrellas also added a helper on Ender's winner.
- Kampman finished the night with three saves in goal.
- Tonight's contest took on a physical tone from the onset, as the two teams combined for 45 fouls and three yellow cards.
 
Up Next
Loyola heads down Interstate 55 on Wednesday, September 29 for a midweek tilt against Bradley.
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