Men's College Soccer
Loyola College 3, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
BALTIMORE, Md.?The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at first-place Loyola Saturday. “In the first half we played strong, but in the second half we gave them too much time and we made some poor decisions that in the end is what hurt us,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager.
The Greyhounds (13-3, 6-1 MAAC) broke the scoreless tie in the 48th minute of play on a goal by Eddie Dines, his fifth goal of the season. “That was a deflection off of somebody's ankle,” Fager said.
Phil Bannister scored the insurance goal, his team-high 10th of the season, with just 18 minutes left in the second half. “The second goal was a miscue in the back,” Fager said.
Jamie Darvill scored on a penalty kick in the final six minutes for the final score. It was Darvill's sixth goal of the season.
“We played well the first half,” Fager said. “We did a lot of things right the first half. We prevented them from making penetrating passes and getting dangerous. The second half we didn't play with as much urgency.”
Loyola out-shot Rider (5-9-2, 0-5-2 MAAC) 10-3.
Rider junior goalkeeper Randall Zapolski (Lawrence) made two saves.
Milos Kocic made two saves for Loyola
Loyola had eight corner kicks to Rider's none. “Loyola has a lot of people who work hard,” Fager said. “They have a half a dozen players from England and Ireland who are big, strong boys who can play. They go to the ball hard, they win balls and they play very well together as a team.”
The Rider line-up was strengthened by the return of junior Evan Lubcher (East Brunswick). “Evan has been sick and played about 65 minutes today and played very well,” Fager said
Rider defeated Loyola in the 1997 MAAC Championship game and in the semi-finals of the 1998 tournament.
Rider and Loyola have met 23 times with the Greyhounds holding a 16-6-1 advantage in the series that began in 1946. Rider defeated Loyola in 2004 but lost 3-1 in the 2005 season finale and lost 1-0 at Rider last season.
Rider hosts Niagara November 2. “Niagara took Saint Peter's to overtime yesterday so it is going to be another battle,” Fager said.
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