Going up against a team fighting for its life is not something the Penn men's soccer team would want to do on a regular basis -- and it is not something that normally happens seven games into the season. But yesterday in Maryland, the Quakers found a Loyola team that was in desperate need of a positive result.
The Greyhounds played accordingly, clawing their way to a 1-1 tie against a much deeper and more experienced Quakers team.
Before the first whistle even blew, it was evident the game had an added element of importance. The Quakers (4-2-1, 0-0 Ivy) rolled into the game on a three-game win streak, while the Greyhounds (3-4-1, 1-0 MAAC) were looking for their second straight win after dropping the previous three games. Loyola was presented with the chance of righting a season that was quickly turning sour.
When you throw a rain-soaked field into the mix, it makes for fantastic soccer.
"We got exactly what we expected from them," Penn coach Rudy Fuller said. "We knew they were going to come out full of energy because they had to get a result today."
For the first time this year, the Red and Blue were able to come out firing on all cylinders. Consistently, the Quakers have lollygagged through the opening minutes, but Fuller was impressed with his team's effort today.
"I think we came out much sharper today. We got a hold of the game and got a few chances," he said. "We were moving the ball quick, were putting them under pressure and were playing them as a team."
The Quakers capitalized on their early efforts, ripping off two more shots and earning four more corner kicks than the Greyhounds during the first half. However, Penn failed to score and the teams entered the locker room with the score knotted at 0-0.
As the teams came out for the second half, a light drizzle began to fall, not helping an already slick field. But once again, the Quakers' bench was able to provide a spark in the form of senior Brian Candler.
In the 67th minute, the Red and Blue were awarded a corner kick, which senior Josh Duyan booted past the far post. Realizing he had no play on the net, junior Arthur Bartholomew played a header back across. The ball went right to Candler and the senior had no trouble finding the back of the net.
With the conditions already sloppy and not improving, it appeared the goal would be all the Quakers would need. But in the 77th minute, Loyola's Camilo Correa played a cross to the weak side, which found an open Vinnie Piscopo, who pounded the ball home to tie the score at 1-1.
Both teams had scoring chances in each overtime, but Penn sophomore goalie Daniel Cepero came up with one save and Loyola's Justin Chelland had two to keep the game tied.
"When you go on the road against a good team, you go into the game wanting to win, but you make sure you don't lose," Fuller said. "So a tie was a good result in today's game."
PENN 0 1 0 0 -- 1 Loyola 0 1 0 0 -- 1
Second half -- 1. Candler (P) 66:15 (Bartholomew); 2. Piscopo (L) 76:21 (Correa, Kokovic)
