The Loyola University Maryland men’s soccer team continues to play in hard-fought contests as it improved its record to 2-2-1 with a 1-0 win over Drexel University and a 1-1 tie against Stetson University.
In Wednesday night’s matchup against the Dragons, the Greyhounds only needed one goal from sophomore Jake Heroux in the 87th minute to win the game. Fellow sophomore Laurin Vogel kicked Loyola’s corner from the left side of the field, where Heroux was able to head the ball into the back of the net. Heroux’s goal was the first of his career on just the second shot of his career.
Drexel’s goalie, Tyler Afflerbach, finished with three saves while Loyola’s own Matt Sanchez stopped four shots. Sanchez managed to make back-to-back saves within seven seconds of each other to preserve the shutout and record his second clean sheet of the season.
The Hounds concluded their three-game road trip at Stetson on Saturday afternoon. The last three games prior to the Stetson matchup were decided by one goal. Loyola avoided the loss and finished with a tie against the Hatters in a double-overtime game.
Stetson struck first as senior Ross Morison scored on a header from freshman Jeppe Moe’s corner kick. Four minutes later, sophomore Ryan Tuck answered back. He scored his first career goal, assisted by freshman Brad Warenicz, to tie the game at 1-1.
In both overtime periods, neither team was able to get past the goalie. The Hatters’ senior goalie, JJ Lofthouse-Smith, and Loyola’s Matt Sanchez both played all 110 minutes and came up with six saves each. Stetson held a 20-16 shot advantage, while both teams put seven shots on goal.
Loyola has yet to score more than one goal in each of its five games so far this season.
The Greyhounds will return home to play La Salle University at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.