Live Blog From Men's Soccer Championship
Nov. 14, 2008
By Josh Taylor, Horizon League Communications Intern
Loyola 1, UIC 0
10:31 p.m.: The Horizon League Championship match will be #3 Cleveland State vs. #5 Loyola following upsets in each of the semifinal matches. UIC and Loyola each had chances for goals in the second half, but Loyola's keep-away game in the final three minutes advances them to the Championship for the second time in three years.
10:27 p.m.: Under four minutes to go and it's safe to say each team is in scramble mode. UIC is pushing at every opportunity and the sidelines are heated. The moans and groans of the crowd have even picked up by a few decibels.
10:16 p.m.: Loyola recorded 13 shutouts in the regular season, including nine in a row before allowing UIC to post two goals in their Nov. 8 meeting. There's no doubt that shutout number 14 would be the biggest of the year for the Ramblers who currently lead 1-0 with nine minutes to go.
10:03 p.m.: I have to admit, I expected Loyola to tense up a bit here in the second half, but to their credit they're every bit as agressive as they were in the first half. They're now tied with UIC 5-5 in corner kicks while maintaining their 1-0 lead.
9:52 p.m.: Another near goal by Loyola as a header was inches too high and bounced off the crossbar. UIC is lucky not be down 2-0.
9:45 p.m.: UIC may hold a 5-0 lead in corner kicks, but it's Loyola who nealry scored another goal only to be denied by a great save.
9:25 p.m.: Loyola is taking a 1-0 lead into the half after getting out of a couple sticky corner kick situations. For the Flames, they have to be wondering how they weren't able to score on multiple breakaway opportunities.
9:16 p.m.: Coming up on 5 minutes to go in the first half, Loyola still holds a 1-0 lead over top-seeded UIC. What's most surprising about this rivalry game is that UIC has had a few different scoring opportunities. Loyola has countered by spending a large amount of time controlling the ball on their own half of the field and not letting UIC's playmakers create anything.
9:03 p.m.: Loyola takes the early 1-0 lead after great passing up the field set up Mark Halma. The Rambler fans have made themselves heard on UIC's field as well.
8:52 p.m.: Loyola has come out fired up to take on one of the nation's top teams in the UIC Flames. After scoring four goals in each of their first two Championship games, the Ramblers have carried that energy into tonight's semifinal matchup.
Cleveland State 1, Butler 0
7:49 p.m.: Butler's first loss to a conference opponent this season come's in the League's Championship Semifinal, 1-0, to Cleveland State. What a great game with each team having plenty of scoring opportunities. Now on to the second semfinal game to find out who will meet Cleveland State in Sunday's championship match.
7:46 p.m.: Under two minutes to go and Cleveland State's Marco DiFranco put the ball in the left corner of the net past the arms of Butler's goalie Nick Hegeman for 1-0 lead.
7:44 p.m.: Under 5 minutes remaining in the night's first matchup and neither team has been able to put the ball in the net. Cleveland State has crowded their players inside the penalty box not allowing Butler any clean lanes to the goal.
7:32 p.m.: The game is getting more and more physical as time dwindles down and each team getting closer and closer to netting the first goal of the night. Butler's Frank Patano seems to have tken an elbow to the chin and was slow to get up, but will remain in the game with 13 minutes to go.
7:20 p.m.: 24:35 left in the second half and the game is still scoreless. Butler keeps trying to get the ball to Forward Eduardo Garcia, but Cleveland State has had him blanketed all game.
7:05 p.m.: We are one half away from either Cleveland State or Butler advancing to Sunday's championship game to take on the winner of UIC vs. Loyola which will be coming up at the conclusion of this game.
The second half is starting just how the first half did with each team unable to get any closer than 30 yards from the opposition's net.
6:45 p.m.: At the half Butler and Cleveland State are tied 0-0, thanks to some great goalkeeping by Cleveland State's Nick Harpel. Even though no goals were scored, it was such an entertaining first half that the only reason I'm even noticing I can't feel my fingers is because I'm typing. Time for some hot chocolate.
6:33 p.m.: Despite Butler's ability to control the ball for the early portion of the game, Cleveland State has had its fair share of scoring opportunities by capitalizing on Butler's sometimes overly aggressive play.
6:25 p.m.: Another missed opportunity for Butler on a great cross, but nobody was home and now Cleveland State has a corner kick.
Within the past couple of possessions the game has picked up some intensity with each coach becoming a bit more vocal and the reserves all on their feet.
6:18 p.m.: Cleveland State goalie Nick Harpel made a fantastic leaping save on a Butler free kick from well outside the penalty box to keep the game knotted at 0-0. After a bit of a lull, Butler is controlling possession again.
6:05 p.m.: Some back and forth action to start the game, but Butler seems to have the early momentum keeping the ball on Cleveland State's side of the field for the first few minutes. Butler got the first corner kick and first shot on goal, but neither led to a goal. An early goal by Butler was also negated by an offsides call.
Each team is definitely in post-season form making crisp passes and reads across the field with each defense keeping the ball around midfield.
5:56 p.m.:First of all I just want to say how grateful I am that it's not raining in Chicago because I think it's cold enough already.
UIC has a terrific campus under the lights and in close view of the Chicago skyline.
