ROCKFORD, Ill. – A pair of first half goals helped lead Loyola to a 2-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 14) at The Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two. Fabian Becerra and Billy Hency scored seven minutes apart to give the Ramblers the victory. 

"Loyola are a really tough, defensive, physical team and we gave up two goals from set pieces," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "It was difficult to dig ourselves out of that hole once we were there. We were better in the second half and got into some dangerous areas but it was too little, too late at that point."

A cagey start between the Huskies and Ramblers saw neither side attempt a shot until the 22nd minute when Loyola had an attempt blocked and the follow up fired high.

Two minutes later, the Ramblers went in front as Becerra rose highest to head home a corner from Marc Torrellas, giving Loyola a 1-0 lead. 

Loyola (1-1) doubled its advantage in the 31st minute as the Ramblers were awarded a penalty. Hency slotted home the spot kick to give Loyola a 2-0 advantage just past the half-hour mark. 

NIU (0-2) had a pair of looks at goal in the first half as junior Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) had an attempt blocked in the 25th minute and sophomore Luis Hernandez (Mesquite, Texas/Lone Star) took a shot that was blocked in the 38th minute as Loyola took a 2-0 lead into the interval. 

Huskie sophomore goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) made a pair of stops in the opening 10 minutes of the season have before junior Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) whistled NIU's first opportunity after the break just wide right before the hour mark. 

With 20 minutes to play, the Huskies began throwing everything forward. NIU earned a trio of corners, junior Miguel Maynez Jr. (El Pason, Texas/New Mexico) had a shot blocked, Anthony Markanich headed high from one of the corners and junior Roque Viegas Jr. (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Syracuse) forced a save from Loyola goalkeeper Simon Jillson but the Huskies were unable to unlock the Rambler defense as Loyola claimed the 2-0 win. 

Sanchez finished with four saves for NIU, Jillson made one stop after coming on in relief of Marcel Kampman for Loyola. 

The Huskies will return to Rockford on Wednesday, February 17, when the Huskies take on DePaul at 11 a.m. at The Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two.