BALTIMORE – After years of heartbreak, Loyola University Maryland men's soccer finally had the breaks go its way in a playoff game.
Jacob Denison converted the last of seven-straight successful penalty kicks, as the Greyhounds advanced past Army West Point 7-6 in the deciding shootout following a scoreless draw at Ridley Athletic Complex.
Denison,
Justin Ingram,
Kelan Swales,
Daniel Tshiani,
Jordy Luchies,
Matthew Lala and
Kevin Medrano were all clutch from the penalty spot, sending Loyola (9-6-3) to its first Patriot League Championship game. The top-seeded Greyhounds will host No. 2 American in Saturday's final at 12 p.m., with the winner earning an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.
Chase Vosvick needed to just make one save to post his fourth-straight shutout and extend his career-long scoreless streak to 383:03 minutes. Vosvick also increased his Patriot League record with a 29th career clean sheet, including nine this fall.
Both teams had strong opportunities to break the deadlock late in regulation. Ingram had a free kick just outside the box stopped by Jacob Suppiah in the 76th minute, and a rebound effort by
Loc San was sent wide right. John Poncy then hit the crossbar for Army (8-7-3) with 6:53 remaining in the second half.
Poncy forced Vosvick's lone save 2:31 into double overtime, while Ingram had an effort stopped by Suppiah less than a minute later. Loyola ended the contest with a 14-8 lead in shots and a 7-3 edge in corners.
Both teams were 5 for 5 from the spot in the first five rounds of the shootout, with Lala converting for the Greyhounds to send things into sudden death. Medrano extended the shootout for the home side in the sixth round, and Denison ended the semifinal after Army's seventh round attempt was sent over the bar.
Loyola advances in the Patriot League tournament for the first time after seeing its season end in the previous five semifinals. The Greyhounds will now have a chance to advance to the Division I tournament for a first time since 2009 and the ninth occasion overall in program history.
American booked its spot in Saturday's final with a 4-2 victory over Navy this afternoon. Loyola topped the Eagles (9-4-4) by a 3-0 margin during the regular season meeting at Ridley on Oct. 12.
