Undefeated Loyola comes back to beat Princeton

The men’s soccer team put up a strong performance against an undefeated Loyola squad but left the game disappointed after the Greyhounds (5-0-1) overcame an early Princeton (1-3) goal to leave the match with a 2-1 victory. The Tigers were coming off their first victory of the season over Seton Hall but had a tough matchup as Loyola had won four straight after tying its first game of the season. The impressive start to the season for the Greyhounds earned them votes in the NSCAA coach’s poll, and they barely missed the top 25.

The first half started off well for the Tigers, as they controlled the ball well and created a few more chances than the Greyhounds. The Tigers put up the only two shots of the first 10 minutes and had three of the first four shots of the game.

The Greyhounds found their groove in the 27^thminute however, going on a seven-minute stretch where they dominated play. The stretch began with the first shot-on-goal for the Greyhounds, which was handled easily by senior goalkeeper Seth MacMillan. The Greyhounds then put up four straight shots that failed to reach the goal. The Greyhounds came within inches of getting on the board first when a header from Ryan Tuck hit the post. The strong offensive stretch for Loyola ended after MacMillan recorded his second save of the game on a shot from the middle.

Princeton responded to end the half however, putting up three of the last four shots of the period and scoring on a goal from 12 yards out by sophomore forward Nico Hurtado on an assist from sophomore midfielder Brendan McSherry. The goal and assist were the first of both Hurtdao and McSherry’s careers. Hurtado got his first assist earlier in the season but had yet to score a goal. The goal came less than a minute after the Tigers made two substitutions.

Princeton continued its strong play in the second half, recording the first four shots of the period. Loyola goalkeeper Thurman Van Riper played well to make sure the Tigers did not extend their lead. Things started to go south for the Tigers after senior midfielder/defender Patrick O’Neil drew a yellow card. The Greyhounds put up two shots soon after the foul,including a shot that hit the crossbar. A foul on Princeton in the 67^thminute then lead to a penalty kick by Larry Ndjock of Loyola. Ndjock converted the opportunity to tie up the game.

Princeton then began to pressure the Greyhounds heavily, putting up four straight shots on goal. Things then looked better for the Tigers when Ndjock drew a red card, forcing him out of the game. However, Loyola seemed unfazed by the foul, as striker Stephen Dooley immediately scored when Loyola recovered the ball. The goal happened after a Princeton defender left Dooley unmarked in order to go after the ball. The Greyhounds saw the opening and immediately passed the ball to Dooley, who had a one-on-one with the goalie and snuck the ball into the upper left corner of the goal.

Loyola then drew another red card with five minutes to go, giving the Tigers a good opportunity to tie up the game. Princeton controlled the ball but was not able to get a shot off until the final seconds, when a header by Macmillan, who had come out of the goal in order to try to score a desperation goal, was saved by Van Riper on his second effort, preventing the game from going to overtime.

The Tigers will now travel to Georgetownon Sundayfor their fourth road game of the season to take on the No. 19 Hoyas.