Loyola (MD) men defeat Niagara

NIAGARA, N.Y. – Kyle Wittman (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall College) made a season-high eight saves and Glenn Leitch (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) scored his third goal of the weekend as the Loyola University Maryland men’s soccer team posted its third straight shutout to top Niagara in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference  play on Sunday, 1-0.

Loyola improves to 8-3-2 overall and 4-0-1 in the MAAC, while Niagara drops to 4-9-2 and 2-3-1 against MAAC teams.

Kyle Wittman (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall College) made a season-high eight saves for his sixth shutout and third consecutive clean sheet. The win marks the team’s seventh win over an eight-game unbeaten streak.

Leitch and Stephen Dooley (Portstewart, Northern Ireland/Loreto College Coleraine) and tied for the team lead in shots, with four. Niagara outshout the Greyhounds 20 to eight, but a second-half goal from Leitch would prove all the scoring Loyola needed.

The Niagara offense tested Loyola early and often, registering seven shots on goal in 11 overall shots in the first half. Wittman proved equal to the task, however, stopping all seven to keep the game scoreless at halftime.

Loyola came out of the break roaring, as Glenn Leitch tallied his third goal in two games with a score two minutes and 46 seconds into the second half. A Greyhound corner kick found its way to Leitch, whose shot beat Niagara goalkeeper Christopher Skelton to put Loyola ahead, 1-0.

The Greyhounds return to the Ridley Athletic Complex for their final two home contests in the regular season. The squad hosts Siena on Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on Iona on Sunday at 1 p.m.