Sept. 26, 2008

Box Score

CHICAGO - Despite holding a whopping 20-7 edge in shots, the Loyola men's soccer team dropped its first Horizon League match of the season, falling 2-1 to Detroit (2-5-0, 1-0 HL) Friday night at Loyola Soccer Park.

Loyola, (4-2-1, 0-1 HL) ranked No. 29 in this week's College Soccer News national poll, created shots for itself all night long, but was only able to muster one goal past goalkeeper Bryan Kloss, who recorded 12 saves on the night.

The Ramblers had several opportunities in the early going, controlling the ball much of the first half, while Keum Sung Kim and Malcolm DeBaun nailed two shots in particular that required a diving save from Kloss.

But it would be the Titans who struck first in the physical match that produced a combined 40 fouls, as Detroit capitalized on a free kick with four seconds remaining in the first half. Ken Simon lifted the ball just over Loyola goalkeeper Brian Byrne to put the Titans up 1-0 at the break.

Detroit struck again less than 20 minutes into the second half, when Byrne became tied up with a teammate going for the ball, subsequently leaving the net wide open for Sam Seppo to step in and notch the goal.

The Ramblers finally got on the board in the 77th minute, when Eric Gehrig connected on a penalty kick, but it would be all the offense Loyola would get. Gehrig and Kim each recorded five shots on the night, with all of Gehrig's coming on goal, while Michael Ferguson and Alex Jones had three shots each.

The two teams each had five shots in the first half, but Detroit only produced two in the second half to Loyola's 15.

Loyola is back in action Sunday to host League foe Cleveland State at Loyola Soccer Park at 12 p.m.