No. 1 SIUE 0, No. 5 LOYOLA 0 (2OT)
SIUE advances on PKs, 4-3
Box Score
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Host and top-seeded SIUE battled fifth-seeded Loyola to a 0-0 double overtime draw in Friday's second semifinal match at Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, Ill., but the Cougars advanced to the title match of the MVC Men's Soccer Championship on Sunday after taking out the Ramblers in penalty kicks, 4-3.
In a battle of the league's two best defensive teams, the match played out as expected during regulation play and a pair of overtimes. The Cougars dominated possession for much of the first half, out-shooting the Ramblers, 8-3. SIUE's Mohamed Awad came close to scoring at the 5:43 mark after beating a pair of Loyola defenders off the dribble, but failed to convert the early opportunity.
Loyola got its best look at the goal less than a minute after Awad's attempt on the other end, as Elliot Collier made SIUE's net minder Kyle Dal Santo make a move to save the ball off of Collier's foot.
The Cougars had another chance halfway through the first period (25:21) when Garet Christianson forced the Ramblers' goalkeeper, Tim Dobrowolski, to make his second save of the match.
SIUE opened up the second half in its offensive third for the first 25 minutes, with shots by TC Hull blocked (69:09) and Awad sailing the ball wide (70:53). Loyola dominated the last 20 minutes of the second period, firing five corner kicks in the final 10 minutes, but failing to convert on any opportunities. Cougar goalkeeper Dal Santo was able to punch the ball out of the box twice to save the ball from going in the net.
Loyola played with a man down for the final five minutes of regulation and both overtime periods, as Connor Stevenson was pinned for two cards within a five-minute period and was disqualified from the match.
Despite the one-man advantage for SIUE and several breakaway attempts by Jabari Danzy, Awad and Ivan Gutierrez, the Ramblers denied the Cougars through both extra periods, forcing penalty kicks.
In a game that featured the Valley's two best goalkeepers, the pressure was put on Dobrowolski and Dal Santo in between the pipes as the penalty kicks played out.
Both Loyola and SIUE converted on the first three penalty kicks, as Ramblers Kyle Thomson, Daniel Hare and Elliot Collier all converted their attempts, while Cougars Keegan McHugh, Garet Christianson and Justin Bilyeu evened the score with their three kicks.
Rambler Brody Kraussel sailed his shot high on the fourth Loyola attempt, allowing a little breathing room for SIUE, but the Cougars' Mathias Ebbesen followed suit, missing just over the left side of the crossbar.
The Valley's Player and Defensive Player of the Year, Loyola's Eric Schoendorf, got the call for the fifth attempt, but got under the ball and sent it high over the center of the crossbar.
SIUE's Austin Ledbetter was the hero of the night when he netted the fifth and final penalty kick straight down the middle of the net, advancing on a 4-3 advantage in PKs.
SIUE advances to take on third-seeded Drake on Sunday afternoon in the title match of the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Championship at 1:00 PM. The Cougars have three previous title match appearances (2010, 2014 and 2014), winning the championship in last season over Missouri State.
Loyola ends its season at 10-4-5.