No. 5 LOYOLA 3, No. 4 DRAKE 1
Box Score

PEORIA, Ill. - Loyola scored three goals for just the second time this season to overcome an early 1-0 deficit to Drake, topping the Bulldogs by a 3-1 decision in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals Wednesday afternoon. The Ramblers advance to the semifinals of the MVC Men's Soccer Championship and will take on top-seed Missouri State on Friday afternoon.

Drake turned an early advantage in possession into the game's opening goal in the fourth minute. Steven Enna executed a give-and-go with James Wypych, dribbling his shot from near the middle of the penalty area inside the far post to put the Bulldogs on top, 1-0.

Following the goal, the Ramblers began to get hold of possession, pushing into Drake territory, but were unable to make the necessary pass to set up a scoring opportunity. That all changed when Brody Kraussel sent a cross into the box that Elliot Collier headed in at the near post, knotting the game up at 1-1 in the 20th minute. The goal, Collier's team-best fourth of the season, seemed to ignite the Rambler attack as Loyola began to possess the ball with more consistency in the Drake third of the field.

Tim Dobrowolski bounced back from giving up the early goal, making his first save of the half on Enna's blast from 25 yards out in the 29th minute. Kraussel was at it again for the Maroon & Gold four minutes later. The Milwaukee, Wis. native delivered a ball deep inside the 18-yard box that John Cappuccitti redirected past Darrin MacLeod, the Drake goalkeeper, to give Loyola the lead, 2-1, in the 33rd minute. Dobrowolski was called upon to make two more saves before halftime, including a point-blank stop on Alec Bartlett's shot in the 43rd minute, as the Ramblers headed into the locker room in front.

Coming out of the intermission with a 2-1 advantage, Loyola settled in defensively and limited the opportunities for the Bulldogs to begin the half. Wypych notched the first shot of the second stanza in the 57th minute but had his attempt deflected away by the Rambler defense. Dobrowolski struggled to corral the ensuing corner but Loyola caught a break, as Drake was unable to put the loose ball into the back of the net. Cappuccitti answered Wypych's attempt with a try of his own in the 64th minute. Kirill Likhovid played a through ball for the freshman out of Mount Prospect, Ill. but his one-timer was saved by MacLeod.

With time in its season ticking away, Drake amped up the pressure. Dobrowolski was forced into an outstretched save when he tipped Mueng Sunday's shot away from goal. Wypych came close, ripping his shot high, off the ensuing corner before Ben LeMay pushed his attempt just wide of the far post in the 74th minute.

Brody Kraussel had a hand in delivering a dagger to Drake's comeback hopes in the 83rd minute. Enna headed the freshman's cross into his own net to stretch the Loyola lead to 3-1. Dobrowolski came up with another point-blank stop shortly after, denying James Grunert's blast, to protect the two-goal lead. The junior received an assist from his crossbar on Alec Bartlett's header in the 89th minute, which proved to be the final attempt on goal for either team as Loyola booked its ticket into Friday's semifinals.

The win, Loyola's first in the conference tournament since joining the Valley back in the summer of 2013, sets up a matchup with top-seeded Missouri State, the regular season champion, on Friday afternoon. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. from Shea Stadium in Peoria, Ill.