CHICAGO – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team fell to Loyola, 1-0, in the first road match of the 2016 slate on Friday. With the loss, NKU dips to 0-2-1 while Loyola improves to 2-0-0.
 
Between the Posts

• Despite allowing the game-winner in the 69th minute, Norse goalkeeper Christian Carey posted a career night, playing all 90 minutes for a new career high to go with a career-high five saves.
• Four of the sophomore's five saves came in the second half, as he faced 24 shots from an aggressive Loyola offense.
• The NKU defense also chipped in one team save.

First Half Summary

• Both teams got off to a slow start. While Loyola would manage 24 total shots in the match, the Ramblers only posted a pair of shots in the first 25 minutes of action to NKU's one.
• NKU's Bastian Beckers fired the team's only shot of the game two minutes into play.
• Despite allowing seven corner kicks in the opening frame, Northern Kentucky held the Ramblers to just two shot attempts off corner kicks.
• Only one of Loyola's eight shots in the first half was on goal.

Second Half Summary

• The Ramblers returned to the field and fired four shots within the first 10 minutes of the second half, one of which was saved by Carey.
• The Norse struggled to gain possession from a Loyola offense that posted 16 second-half shots.
• Loyola claimed its 1-0 advantage in the 69th minute when Fabian Lifka deposited a goal from the close right wing directed at the far goal post to sneak past Carey.
• Carey came through for the Norse in the 75th minute when he faced three shots in a one-minute span and posted back-to-back saves after Loyola's Alec Lasinksi collected his own rebound and fired it back at the goal.

Norse Notes

• Carey earned his third start in goal in as many games. The sophomore has totaled 180:00 minutes of action and has nine saves this season.
• Wlademir Babew and Dylan Carss each played all 90 minutes on Friday, while Carss is the only Norse to play all 300 possible minutes this season.

Up Next

• NKU will spend two more days in Chicago as it turns around to face DePaul on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. The match is the final nonconference tilt before the Norse open League play on Sept. 10 at Oakland. Links to live stats and video are available at NKUNorse.com.