Loyola Defeats Host Fairfield in MAAC Men's Soccer Semifinal
MAAC Sports
Box Score
Fairfield, CT - Second-seeded Loyola University Maryland defeated third-seeded Fairfield University, 3-0, in the first semifinal game of the 2009 MAAC Men's Soccer Championship at Lessing Field on the campus of Fairfield.
Loyola midfielder Danny Ankrah put the Greyhounds on the board in the 21st minute when he put himself on the end of a free-kick from teammate Phil Bannister. Wade McHugh doubled the Loyola advantage seven minutes later. Following a Fairfield corner kick, Ankrah played a long ball upfield to McHugh, who headed it past the last Fairfield defender, dribbled around Stags' goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe, and shot the ball into the empty goal.
Fairfield saw a lot of posession in the second half and had a number of chances, but they were not able to break down the Greyhounds' defense. Loyola put the game away with a counter-attack less than five minutes from time, as Bannister found McHugh who tapped in for the third goal.
Loyola goalkeeper Kyle Wittman made eight saves to secure his eighth shutout of the season.
Loyola will play the winner of the second semifinal contest between top-seeded Iona College and fourth-seeded Niagara University in the MAAC Championship Game, live on ESPNU. The winner of the 2009 MAAC Men's Soccer Championship will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.
Click here for post-game reaction from Loyola head coach Mark Mettrick.