The Scouts were on the wrong side of a low scoring defensive battle when they lost to the Loyola Ramblers Monday afternoon. In a high strung game where each foul was called and every gesture of frustration thrown towards the official was seen and disciplined, the Scouts couldn’t put enough pressure on the Ramblers to score the decisive goal.
Junior goalkeeper John Walsh put on a show that kept the Scouts in the game. Two minutes in, the Ramblers had a breakaway following a rare mistake by Scouts captain junior defender Konrad Ziaja. Walsh swatted away the first shot and then batted the rebound out for a corner.
In the 17th minute Ziaja looked to redeem himself on a Scout corner. Looking for first corner kick goal of the season, Ziaja perfectly timed his jump and headed the cross into the top corner of the net.
The elation of the goal was cut short when Ziaja was called for a push in the back.
The Ramblers were the first to put points on the board on a penalty kick in the 37th minute. Walsh had been called foul after the streaking Loyola forward ran into him.
In the second half the Ramblers took advantage of two miscues in the Scout defense and scored in the 51st and 55th minutes.
The Scouts were able to crack the scoreboard themselves when in the 66th minute Ziaja took a free kick close to the Loyola goal. While the Rambler keeper was able to block Ziaja’s initial shot, senior forward Charlie Anderson collected the rebound and deposited it in the back of the net.
The Loyola defense hardened after the Scout’s goal and refused to allow any other threats on their net.
The game ended without any other goals. Both Scout captains, Ziaja and senior defender Aved Markarian were yellow carded for dissent when questioning the head referee about fouls.
“It’s a game we should have won,” Markarian said after the game. “We have to work on scoring early, and starting with the mentality that we’re down 2-0.”
The Scouts get a chance put their captain’s words into action when they take on the Zion-Benton tomorrow at home.
Injury Report:
- Andrew Forowycz was forced to leave the game early after a Loyola forward stepped on his ankle. He does not expect to miss any time.
Stat of the Day: Walsh had 8 saves Monday, the most he has had since the Scouts first game of the season against Highland Park. While watching Walsh dive from side to side takes spectator’s breath away, it’s more exciting to see the Scouts put shots on goal.
