CHICAGO – Tobias Crear (Carrollton, Texas/Creekview) scored his second goal in as many matches to open the season as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision to Loyola Chicago on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 23) at the Loyola Soccer Park.
It took Loyola just six minutes to open the scoring through Braeden Wright. The Ramblers won a free kick in midfield wide left of the NIU goal and Luka Ivancic whipped a ball in toward the top of the six-yard box where Wright beat a Huskie defender and headed low past NIU goalkeeper
Cayden Crawford (Plain City, Ohio/Ohio Connections Academy) who had no chance as the hosts took a 1-0 lead early in the contest.
Crear's second goal of the second pulled NIU even in the 22nd minute.
Vance Sheffield (West Linn, Ore./La Salle Catholic College Prep) collected the ball five yards outside the Loyola box and shuttled it on to
Niko Angulo (Dallas, Texas/Allegiance Academy) who got to the byline down the left side before cutting a cross to the back post for Crear who finished back across goal to even the match at 1-1.
The hosts were back in front just after the half-hour mark. Chimnosoh Okeke dispossessed a Huskie in midfield and raced forward before playing the ball wide to Mateusz Drazek on his left. Drazek's first-time low shot found its way past Crawford from around 15 yards to give the Ramblers a 2-1 lead that they would take into the interval.
Loyola added a third in the 57th minute as Jack McFeely gave the hosts a two-goal lead. The Ramblers took a quick restart after a Huskie foul as Seth Stwart played the ball to McFeely who fired into the far side-netting to give Loyola a 3-1 lead.
The goal came against the run of play in the second half as NIU outshot Loyola, 10-4, in the second 45 minutes, and 14-6 overall in the contest. The Huskies had seven corners in the contest, six in the second half, to just one for the Ramblers.
NIU will return to action on Thursday, Aug. 27, when the Huskies welcome Marquette to the NIU Soccer Complex for the home opener. Kickoff against the Golden Eagles is scheduled for 7 p.m. and admission is free of charge.
