MORGANTOWN, W. Va. –
Chase Vosvick made seven saves, including several highlight-reel efforts, and Loyola University Maryland was even in shots with nationally-ranked West Virginia for the final 65 minutes of a 0-0 draw between the two sides on Monday night.
The Greyhounds (1-1-1) earn a result against a Mountaineers squad ranked No. 5 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 10 in the most-recent TopDrawerSoccer.com national rankings. West Virginia (3-0-1) was coming off back-to-back victories over No. 3 Pittsburgh (2-1) and No. 17 Penn State (3-1), but was held off the scoresheet for the first time this season.
"I'm really proud of the guys," head coach
Steve Nichols said. "Chase made some saves that most goalkeepers just don't make to keep us in it, and our offense was able to take it to West Virginia for a long stretch of the second half. To get a result like this on the road shows how good we can be, and we have the potential to get even better as the season goes on."
The Mountaineers started off strong, generating eight of the game's first nine shots. Vosvick made back-to-back diving saves, including one from point blank range on West Virginia's Luke McCormick, to keep the game scoreless in the 17th minute.
Loyola found its footing in the second half, outshooting West Virginia by a 5-4 margin and limiting the Mountaineers to just a single shot on goal during the frame. Freshmen
Kyle Dengler and
Jake Mayer, both making their first collegiate starts on the backline, each had free kick header opportunities sent wide of goal for the Greyhounds.
Vosvick's one save of the half was another diving effort in the 84th minute to send the game to overtime. The seven overall stops matched a career-best which he last reached in his third collegiate appearance at William & Mary on Sept. 1, 2017.
Neither side had a shot in the first overtime session, and Vosvick easily handled the one West Virginia shot on the target during the final 10 minutes of play. Loyola will officially be credited with a team shutout after a late injury led to
Alex Bobocea playing the final 1:05 in goal.
The Greyhounds were facing West Virginia for the first time since 1987, and they improved to 3-0-2 lifetime against the Mountaineers. Loyola was playing its first ranked opponent since earning a 1-1 draw at then-No. 2 Wake Forest back on Oct. 22, 2019.
Another challenging opponent awaits on Friday night, as the Greyhounds travel to face a Providence squad which advanced to the Sweet Sixteen back in 2019. Opening kickoff in that contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.
