Late Goal a Heartbreaker as Men's Soccer Falls at Loyola

Tuesday, October 20

Baltimore, Md.

7:00

Drexel University

2-12-1

Loyola (Md.)

2-9-2

Drexel

Loyola

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Late Goal a Heartbreaker as Men's Soccer Falls at Loyola

10/20/2015 9:11:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BALTIMORE - For just the second time this season, the Drexel men's soccer team netted multiple goals in a game, but the Dragons saw a chance to end a five-game losing skid thwarted when the Loyola Greyhounds netted a game-winning goal with just 15 seconds to play. The Dragons' sixth-consecutive defeat finished 3-2 as goals from Erik Alexandersson and Tristan Thompson were ultimately not enough.

The Dragons could have packed it in early after Loyola scored twice in the game's first 8:38. Xander Saling, who would finish with a hat trick after scoring all three of the Greyhounds' goals, finished a long ball with a goal from 20 yards out just 2:01 into the action to put Loyola on top. He scored his second goal six-and-a-half minutes later by putting in a rebound after Laurin Vogel's shot was blocked away.

Drexel began to climb back into the game in the 21st minute when Alexandersson netted his second goal of the season. Xavier Bou Hernandez sent a through ball into the top right corner of the box, finding Alexandersson who powered the goal into the back of the net. It was Drexel's first shot of the evening, as the Dragons would score on two of their four total shots in the game, three of which went on net.

The Dragons remained a goal back through intermission, until six minutes into the second half. Then, in the 51st minute, the Thompson brothers hooked up for the first time in their careers. Aaron Thompson sent a cross into the box from the left side, finding his brother Tristan six yards out. The sophomore forward poked it in, drawing the Dragons even with just under 40 minutes remaining.

The score stayed like that for nearly that entire remaining time. With the clock winding down, Loyola began a flurry in the 85th minute when a shot ricocheted off the post. It was the first of six shots in the final five minutes. Two of them were saved by Drexel goalkeeper Tyler Afflerbach, who had five saves overall. Another was blocked away, but the fifth, from Brad Warenicz could not be handled cleanly by the Drexel defense. Again, Saling found himself in the right place at the right time, and with just 15 seconds remaining on the clock, he poked the loose ball through Afflerbach's legs and into the goal. The Dragons could not mount a last second miracle and Loyola escaped with the victory.

Drexel will return to action on Saturday as the Dragons host their second-to-last Colonial Athletic Association matchup. Drexel will take on William & Mary at Vidas Field at 4:00 p.m.