Bonnies are brought down by men’s soccer in 2-1 triumph

Loyola men’s soccer scored early to lead a 2-1 victory against St. Bonaventure Oct. 17. The Ramblers earned the win amid Loyola Alumni Weekend, now standing 7-5-3 overall and 2-3-1 in conference.

Within the first six minutes of the half, fifth-year midfielder Seth Stewart was fouled twice before being issued a yellow card — the first of five given between both teams — for unsporting following a sliding tackle that knocked down a Bonnie.

After a shot from first-year midfielder Nicolas Kehayov flew out on the left, the Ramblers found themselves facing the net again in the eighth minute. A cross from first-year defender Cohen Havill allowed first-year midfielder Mateusz Drazek to slot the ball into the right corner to take the first lead 1-0.

The Bonnies didn’t have their first go at the net until the 15th minute when second-year forward Brendan Sheehan had a quick shot through Loyola’s defense only for it to land out on the left.

The following 10 minutes contained three more shots from Loyola as they held strong on possession. Kehayov’s shot flew high over the crossbar while third-year defender Liam O’Donoghue forced the Bonnies third-year goalkeeper Jory Winston to dive to the bottom left for the first save. Third-year midfielder Luka Ivancic tried but directed his attempt above the post.

Following two unsuccessful corners from Loyola, Sheehan broke through Rambler’s defense to notch consecutive attempts at the net. The first fell off the target while the second went out on top.

The final 15 minutes of the half resulted in little action as Loyola limited the Bonnies offensive chances to one more shot. Second-year midfielder Landon Weber tallied the last attempt that slid out on the right and the Ramblers entered halftime 1-0.

The second half started with three consecutive corners for the Bonnies in the 47th minute. Seconds later, third-year forward Arved von Vegesack darted past his defender to send an attempt to the top left of the net where it met Winston for his second save of the match.

Three minutes later, Weber sent one to the bottom left where Ionita was quick to make a diving catch. In the 52nd minute, von Vegesack made another attempt but directed his shot too wide on the left.

The Bonnies were issued a yellow a minute later when third-year midfielder Yaseen Khaled was called on unsporting after crashing into Ionita while he was in the middle of making a save.

Following the foul, Ivancic and Vegesack pressured the net with two attempts each. Ivancic shot off target then sent one out on the left while von Vegesack drove both of his out on the right.

In the 63rd minute, O’Donoghue soared the ball over the top. Two minutes later, von Vegesack held possession through the midfield and crossed to fourth-year midfielder Jack McFeely. The ball was directed to fourth-year forward Petar Janjic who scored with a clean slide into the bottom right of the net for his first of the season and widening the lead 2-0.

Two minutes later, the Bonnies challenged a play on Loyola and called for VAR review, but following a break it was decided no penalty on the Ramblers.

The next 10 minutes resulted in five attempts at the net, one from Stewart who shot out on the left and four from the Bonnies trying to catch up.

Second-year forward Ryan Holt was up at the net twice, but his first fell off target and his second brushed the right-side post. Sheehan’s attempt was nowhere near entering and third-year forward Neshawn Sutherland sent the ball to the bottom center where it was denied by Ionita.

In the 75th and 80th minute, the Bonnies earned two more yellow card warnings. Holt received the first one after another push into Ionita during a pause in action. Fourth-year defender Harvey Skurek was given the second after a hard dive into Stewart resulting in him rolling over.

With nine minutes on the clock, the Bonnies found their chance to shorten the lead when Kyle Macfarlane knocked one through the top center following a cross from fourth-year midfielder Jack Steel. Ionita attempted the save but misjudged its entrance and dove for it, allowing a 2-1 score.

St. Bonaventure called for their last challenge during a play in the attacking zone when a Loyola player crashed into a Bonnie. Following VAR review, it was decided that no penalty was called on the Ramblers.

With three minutes left, Holt shot for the bottom left where Ionita made his final save of the match. Skurek held the last opportunity but shot unsuccessfully off target. In the last minute, the Bonnies received another yellow with Steel on the receiving end following a push into a Loyola player that resulted in knocking him down. The game ended with a victorious 2-1 score for Loyola.

After notching the early goal for the Ramblers and his third of the season, Drazek said his focus in that moment was to keep passing the ball and credited Head Coach Kevin Robson for saying to keep it moving.  

“Like don’t let the one goal get to you and just keep moving throughout the game,” Drazek said. “Like my favorite saying, ‘keep it schmovin,’ just got to keep it nice and smooth.”

With two final matchups in Atlantic 10 conference play, Robson said he’s looking forward to playing against the historic Saint Louis University program.

“Today, I thought we got what we deserved, and heading into Saint Louis, which is an unbelievable program — looking forward to that game,” Robson said. “Two really tough games to close out but this conference is unforgiving, and you got to be ready every night, but I’m really happy with the way the guys laid it on the line today.”

The Ramblers will face Saint Louis University on the Billikens’ home turf Oct. 24 with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.