BALTIMORE –
Jordy Luchies converted a first-half penalty kick to give Loyola University Maryland men's soccer an early lead on Saturday in its Patriot League opener against the U.S. Naval Academy, but the Midshipmen equalized shortly before halftime, and the teams played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening at Ridley Athletic Complex.
Rolando Onu beat a defender one-on-one at the top of the box and was fouled by Navy goalkeeper Pierce Holbrook, drawing a penalty in the seventh minute of action.
Luchies put the Greyhounds on the board with a penalty strike, and Loyola was up, 1-0.
Shots were nearly even in the first half with Loyola holding an 8-7 advantage, but the Midshipmen's last attempt of the period tied the game at 1-1.
A.J. Schuetz sent a ball through the box, and Victor Saade finished it for the equalizer.
Loyola had the first three shot attempts of the second half before Navy got off its first in the frame with a Nate Stewart shot in the 73
rd minute. The Midshipmen had their second, and final shot of the half in the 85
th minute, but it went off frame.
The Greyhounds earned a corner kick in the game's final 20 seconds, and
Sean McEvoy bent a swinging ball to the top of the six. A shot redirected the ball into the net, but a foul was whistled on Loyola with four seconds on the clock, nullifying the go-ahead tally.
Dylan van der Walt marked a season-high with six saves in goal for the Greyhounds.
"It's disappointing, we've had the lead at North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Fordham, and Navy and conceded goals that have cost us three points." Head Coach
Steve Nichols said. "To the boys credit they fought to the last second scoring that goal with 4 seconds left that was disallowed."
Loyola will step out of Patriot League action on Tuesday, September 19, for a 7 o'clock match against the University of Pennsylvania at Ridley Athletic Complex.
