NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament Blog

Nov. 21, 2008

NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
Live Blog - Northwestern vs. Loyola
Nov. 21, 2008

5:53 p.m. CT - Hey I made it!! This is Assistant Director of Communications Josh Rattray blogging from Northwestern's Lakeside Field at Northwestern. I just pulled up to the field. I didn't think I'd ever make it. The pitch here was tough to find, and I owe a bit of thanks to Stephanie Jarvis, a Northwestern grad who talked me through the maze. Thanks Steph!!

6:29 p.m. CT - It is cold. Just assume that, through all the blog posts, that it will continue to be cold.

7:04 p.m. CT - Loyola's star senior Keum Sung Kim went down and is clutching his knee. The trainer is on the field, and it doesn't look good at the moment...a huge blow to LU is he can't return.

7:08 p.m. CT - After a few minutes of playing a man down, Loyola welcomes Keum Sung Kim back to the lineup. He looks good, just shaken up for a moment.

7:17 p.m. CT - Northwestern's Matt Eliason had the match's first dangerous shot. He took a shot from about 20 yards out that sailed over the crossbar at 12:47.

7:21 p.m. CT - Kim just put a dazzling move on an NU defender and took LU's first decent shot. It sailed high and wide at 17:23.

7:28 p.m. CT - Mark Halma just had Loyola's best shot, coming at 24:53. He took a pass right in the middle of the box and sent a sweeping, left-footed kick toward All-Big Ten keeper Misha Rosenthal, who dove the wrong way but kicked it out of danger.

7:30 p.m. CT - I'd like to note that Northwestern's facility is pretty strong. Big press box with a space heater - KEY!! - and plenty of workspace. Dan Platt and NU women's soccer head coach Stephanie Erickson are on the call of the webcast and are doing a good job. They're no HLN, of course!!

7:43 p.m. CT - There is a very good crowd here despite the cold. The fans are loud and it's a good atmosphere. On a less cheery note, someone has an airhorn, which is against NCAA rules. Once I find him/her, I'll prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

7:48 p.m. CT - Halftime. Scoreless. Good match though. Lots of flow, lots of chances for both teams. I think it's even so far.

8:32 p.m. CT - Piero Bellizzi of Northwestern, an All-Big Ten player, had a great shot from point-blank, but sent the try right into the arms of Loyola keeper Brian Byrne.

8:45 p.m. CT - Ahhh! I'm texting and working on women's basketball stuff and I'm missing all the action...I'll try to tighten up the screws, because, unfortunately, I think we're headed for overtime.

8:52 p.m. CT - Extra time...scoreless at the end of regulation. NU finishes with a 10-7 shots advantage and definitely controlled the second half. By the way, the wind chill is 9. Yeah, 9 degrees fahrenheit.

8:57 p.m. CT - A staff member from Northwestern just told me the official attendance is 801. It's a very loud crowd...chants of NU! all the time. I'd kind of like to get an LU! chant going.

9:05 p.m. CT - Another strong shot by Eliason at 97:40. He had a shot from the right corner of the box that went just outside the right post.

b>9:21 p.m. CT - Penalty Kicks!! After 110 minutes of futbol, Loyola and Northwestern will go to PKs. Each team brings 5 players to the circle. They can choose anyone on the roster. Each team shoots, alternating shots. After 5 shots, we'll see who advances to Notre Dame.

9:30 p.m. CT - Northwestern advances. The Wildcats went up 3-0 in PKs before Eric Gehrig finally got LU on the board. It was up to Brian Usinger of NU..and he buried it. 4-1 PKs, Northwestern. The Wildcats will play at Notre Dame Tuesday.

9:33 p.m. CT - Great run by Loyola. The Ramblers finish 12-6-4. I tip my winter cap to head coach Brendan Eitz and his program. They represented the Horizon League well. I'm going home!!!

JRAT