By James Fox
Staff Writer
The Loyola University Maryland men’s soccer team pitched two shutouts this past week, defeating Quinnipiac Wednesday on the road, 1-0, and Campbell at home on Saturday night, 2-0. Sophomore Larry Ndjock led the charge for the Greyhounds, scoring the game’s only goal against Quinnipiac, and then scoring the game’s first goal on Saturday against Campbell. Ndjock now has six goals on the year, and he has scored in four straight games, all victories.
During Wednesday night’s affair against Quinnipiac, the Greyhounds kept the pressure on the Bobcats early and often, reeling off five shots within the first 14 minutes of play. Freshman Ryan Tuck launched the first shot of the game in just the first minute, but Quinnipiac goalkeeper Borja Angoitia made the first of his seven saves. Senior Stephen Dooley had a shot blocked at the 6:01 mark and after a corner kick by sophomore Dominic Marshall, Ndjock fired a shot that missed just wide of the goal. In the 11th minute, Loyola kept the pressure on the Bobcats as junior Connor Thompson threaded a pass to Marshall, who fired from just eight yards out before Angoitia made another save for Quinnipiac. Ndjock had another shot saved in the 14th minute.
For the Bobcats, Machel Baker had seven shot attempts, the closest coming in the 39th minute, when his shot deflected off the goal post to keep the game scoreless. The Greyhounds closed out the first half with a shot attempt by freshman Brennan Goldsmith which was saved, preserving the first-half shutout.
Quinnipiac piled on 10 shots in the second half alone, but senior goalkeeper Thurman Van Riper was up to the challenge, notching two of his three total saves in the second period. Finally, at the end of the 83rd minute, senior Diego McQuestion passed the ball to Ndjock, who soared past the defenders and launched a low shot at the far post for his fifth goal in the first four games of the season. It was also the third straight game in which he had scored.
In the game’s final minute, Quinnipiac had one last chance to force overtime, but Justin Kody’s shot missed just wide shortly before time expired.
“This was a very good win for us away from home at a very difficult place to play,” Loyola head coach Mark Mettrick said. “The game was a hard-fought match in tough (90-degree heat) conditions and I am very pleased that our team gutted it out.”
Against the Campbell Fighting Camels at Ridley Athletic Complex on Saturday evening, Ndjock got things started with a shot that sailed high of the net in the game’s second minute, the first of six shot attempts by Ndjock. After consecutive shots by Dooley and freshman David Warburton, Campbell’s Isaiah Page attempted a shot that was stopped by Van Riper in the ninth minute. Van Riper would go on to convert two more saves before the 16th minute.
The Greyhounds had a couple of scoring opportunities in the 18th minute, when Ndjock’s shot attempt was blocked and deflected back to Dooley, who then fired a shot that was saved by Campbell goalkeeper Ethan Hall. In the 38th minute, Dooley beat a defender to the end line and sent a cross to McQuestion into the 6-yard box. McQuestion then passed the ball to Ndjock, who poked it in from close range to give the Greyhounds a 1-0 advantage. In the 58th minute, the Greyhounds got some much-needed insurance. Ndjock was fouled, setting up a free kick from Dooley on the right side. Dooley’s corner sailed into the box where McQuestion headed the ball into the top right corner of the net for his first goal of the season. That gave the Hounds a 2-0 lead, after two consecutive 1-0 victories. Van Riper finished the match with seven saves for his second straight shutout on the season. As a team, the Greyhounds have had three consecutive shutouts.
The Greyhounds will remain at home for the next three games and will show off their 4-0-1 record at home against Princeton on Wednesday.