Men's College Soccer
Loyola University 1, Rider University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs lost an even-fought Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Loyola Saturday night. "We just went toe-to-toe with the best team in the conference over the past few years," said Rider head coach Russ Fager. "I thought the guys played well."
The defending MAAC Champion, Loyola (6-3-2, 2-0-1 MAAC) scored the only goal of the game just 12 minutes into the contest. "We give up a goal in the first 15 minutes and it comes back to haunt us," Fager said.
Loyola out-shot Rider (2-10, 1-2 MAAC) 10-8 and had six shots on goal to Rider's four. Both teams had four corner kicks. "I don't think the game was anything but even," Fager said. "We had some quality chances, probably some better chances than they did."
Rider sophomore goalkeeper Matt Perrella (North Brunswick, N.J./N. Brunswick) made five saves. "I thought we did a good job defending today," Fager said. "Loyola is very dangerous on some set pieces and we did a good job of handling that. We got a good game from Matty Perrella, which was big for him. I thought Titus (junior Alex Titus of Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) back in the back played very well."
Loyola was the 2009 and 2007 MAAC Champion and the 2008 runner-up after going 9-0 during the MAAC regular season.
Rider lost at Loyola 3-0 last season.
Rider and Loyola have now met 26 times since the series began in 1946, with Rider winning six, including 2004. Rider defeated Loyola in the 1997 MAAC Championship Game. The two teams tied in 1981.
The Broncs travel to Western New York next weekend, taking on Niagara Friday night and Canisius Sunday afternoon. "We have to get a few guys healthy and we head up to Buffalo," Fager said. "That's a long trip."
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