HAMILTON – A redirected cross two minutes into overtime sent Loyola home with a 2-1 victory over the Colgate men's soccer team on Saturday at Beyer-Small '76 Field.
After both teams cracked the scoreboard early, defense ruled the rest of the way until the Greyhounds broke through in the 93rd minute. Josh Fawole saved a ball at the end line and pushed a cross in front, where Jonathan Sousa pocketed the game winner inside the post.
Loyola (7-7, 4-2 Patriot), the Patriot League's preseason favorite to win a third straight regular-season title, jumped on the board first in the 32nd minute. Barry Sharifi lofted a corner kick into the box and
Jacob Harris could not possess the ball before Brian Saramogo sent the loose ball high into the netting for the early go-ahead goal.
Colgate (3-8-4, 1-4-1 Patriot) responded less than two minutes later.
Drew Fischer heaved a throw-in toward the center of the box,
Christian Clarke redirected a pass and
Mason Miller drilled his second goal of the season into the upper left corner of the net for the equalizer.
The Raiders dominated possession and outshot Loyola 10-2 in the first half but the two teams went into halftime all squared away at 1-1.
Loyola turned the tides in the second half, nearly doubling Colgate in shots, 9-5. Harris was masterful in net and tallied four saves. He came away with a diving save in the 71st minute off a shot from Fawole and leaped to redirect a blast over the crossbar in the 84th minute after Loyola's Saramogo rang a shot off the post.
Lucas Lezcano created Colgate's best scoring chance down the stretch. With just five seconds left in regulation, Lezcano twirled a long shot on target and Greyhounds keeper Chase Vosvick was forced to leap to make the save and send the game to overtime.
Harris and Colgate's back line hung tough but ultimately conceded the game-winning goal 2:11 into the extra period and the Greyhounds escaped with a 2-1 triumph.
BOTTOM LINE
Loyola 2, Colgate 1 (OT)
QUOTES
Head Coach Erik Ronning
On the game:
"A very tough result and disappointing loss. This was a typical Patriot League battle. Credit to Loyola; they had a great game plan. We started really well; the first half was terrific. We defended well, didn't give anything away. They scored off a corner kick which was unfortunate, but we did not have to make a whole lot of adjustments at halftime.
"We got tired a little bit, our lines started opening up and they were able to create a couple scoring opportunities in the second half. We hung on and got to overtime. I was hoping to see our guys regroup and tighten things up but it obviously was not meant to be.
"There were a lot of bright spots tonight and some good performances. We had a terrific work ethic, but we faded a little bit at the end."
Looking ahead to American:
"We are going to come to practice, train hard and focus on American. We are a resilient group. We are hard-working and have high-character scholar athletes. We care about each other. We don't like to lose and we are always going to be a group that finds solutions.
"There is not a lot of room for error, but I am sure our guys will bring a great attitude this week. We are just focused on our preparation for the next day and how we can be better. I am confident our guys will bounce back."
NOTABLES
- All four of Harris' saves came in the second half.
- The last three Colgate-Loyola matches have gone to overtime.
- Colgate's 15 shots were a season high, with 10 coming in the first half.
- Eight Raiders finished with a shot, led by Edward Bass with four.
- Miller's goal was his second of the season.
- Fischer registered his team-high third assist on Miller's marker.
- Clarke with his assist now has four points to lead the Raider back line.
UP NEXT
Colgate hits the road next Saturday for a key Patriot League match at American at 1 p.m.
