PHILADELPHIA –
Matthew Lala headed in an equalizing goal in the 75th minute, helping Loyola University Maryland come back from a one-goal deficit for a second time to earn a 2-2 tie at Penn on Monday night.
Daniel Tshiani scored the other goal off a penalty kick for the Greyhounds (1-2-2), while
Kevin Medrano and
Albert Kang assisted on Lala's strike. Joey Bhangdia and Charlie Gaffney had the goals for the Quakers (2-1-1).
All four goals were scored during an eventful second half. Bhangdia put the home side in front 3:06 after the intermission, as he found space alone in front and tucked a low shot into the right corner.
Tshiani equalized less than two minutes later, as he drew a foul inside the box and blasted the ensuing penalty kick into the top left corner for his first goal at Loyola.
The Greyhounds registered four of the next five shots following Tshiani's strike, but Penn was able to bounce back in the 71st minute. Two forwards managed a breakaway with only goalie
Alex Bobocea to beat, and Michael Hewes sent the ball to Gaffney for a tap-in on the right side.
Loyola again was able to fight back, this time needing less than four minutes to level up the score. Kang gained possession of the ball after a corner kick and found Medrano on the left side. He then fired a cross in towards Lala, who beat his defender and headed an effort past goalie Nick Christoffersen.
Medrano now has assists in back-to-back games, while Lala recorded his second goal of the season after previously scoring the game-winner in Loyola's 2-0 victory over UC Irvine.
Penn had a 5-2 advantage in shots during the two overtime sessions, but the only one on target was corralled by Bobocea in goal. The Greyhounds' goalkeeper, making a second-straight start in place of
Chase Vosvick, finished the night with three saves for the visitors.
Shots for the night were even at 14-14, while Loyola earned five of the game's nine corner kicks.
The Greyhounds can now look ahead to their Patriot League opener, as they travel to Lehigh for a 7:30 p.m. matchup on Saturday to conclude a stretch of five-consecutive games away from Ridley Athletic Complex.
