DEAKLB, Ill. – A goal from Connor Stevenson four minutes into the second half helped give Loyola-Chicago a 1-0 exhibition victory over the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team on Tuesday afternoon at the NIU Soccer Complex. 

"There were a lot of positive things that we saw out there that we were happy with," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Both from the guys that started the game and from some of the new guys that came in and filled some spots. Obviously there are things to work on, but as a coaching staff and a team we walk out feeling pretty good about the performance. Loyola is a very good team, so to have played with them, and played pretty close, it was a nice reflection on what we have done so far."

NIU created the first good opportunity of the contest in the 14th minute when sophomore Ethan Pitre (Minneapolis, Minn./Prairie Seeds Academy) flashed a header just wide. 

In the 26th minute, senior goalkeeper Drew Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) was called upon for the first time as get dove to his left to stop a shot from Kyle Thomson. 

Sophomore Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Georg-Buechner Gym) forced a save from the Loyola goalkeeper Evan Konermann in the 35th minute and moments later had the ball in the back of the net, but his second effort was ruled offside and the game went to the intermission tied, 0-0. 

In the 49th minute, Stevenson put the Ramblers in front with a goal off an assist from Tyler Biggs. Biggs squared a ball to Stevenson inside the box and Stevenson calmly slotted a shot past NIU goalkeeper Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./East Leyden) to give Loyola a 1-0 lead. 

The Huskies responded well to the goal and earned a series of corner kicks just after the hour mark, but were unable to convert on any of those opportunities. In the 80th minute, freshman Parker Moon (Lees Summit, Mo./Lees Summit North) had a chance that just skimmed off the top of the crossbar, the chance would not have counted as Moon was flagged offside. 

NIU will conclude exhibition action on Sunday, Aug. 20, when the Huskies travel to Des Moines, Iowa to meet Drake. Game time against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 3 p.m.