HAMDEN, Conn. – Senior defender William Cavallo’s (Londonderry, N.H.) lone goal in the 53^rd minute of play was all the Quinnipiac men’s soccer team needed, as it defeated Loyola (Md.) in a defensive battle, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at Quinnipiac Soccer Field. The win improves the Bobcats record to 2-3, while the loss ends the Greyhounds’ four-game winning streak, as they see their record fall to 5-2-1 on the season.

Cavallo’s first goal of the season came at the most opportune time for the Bobcats, which earned its second consecutive victory, both on the season and against non-conference competition. On the score, Cavallo received a pass from junior forward Philip Suprise (Milwaukee, Wisc.) and drilled a shot that kissed the underside of the crossbar and into the net. The assist for Surprise was his team-leading fourth of the season.

Quinnipiac played tremendous team-defense on the afternoon, helping Borja Angoitia (Bilbao, Spain) earn his first clean-sheet of the season. Freshman Demba Sylla (Montreal, Quebec), freshman Matthew Donovan (Holliston, Mass.), sophomore Brandon Strain-Goode (Toronto, Ontario) and junior Greg DiGiovine (Cranford, N.J.) all chipped in for the Bobcats, holding Loyola (Md.) scoreless for the second time thus far in its season. Thanks to an active defense that contested every shot taken, the Bobcats allowed only four of Loyola’s (Md.) 20 shots to reach the net.

Neither squad was able to find the back of the net after 45 minutes of play, as the teams went into the locker rooms tied, 0-0. The Greyhounds outshot the Bobcats, 10-4, yet Angoitia did not make a save in the half due to a handful of blocked shots.

Following Cavallo’s goal, Quinnipaic stymied a Loyola (Md.) equalizer for the remaining 35-plus minutes of action. The Bobcats played tight defense, limiting the Greyhounds to just three shots in the final 15 minutes of action.

Angoitia made four saves on the afternoon, while his counterpart Kyle Wittman made six saves for Loyola (Md.).

The Bobcats outshot the Greyhounds, 11 to 10, in the second half. Overall, Loyola took 11 corner kicks compared to Quinnipiac’s four.

Quinnipiac returns to action on Friday, Sept. 30 when it hosts Northeast Conference opponent Bryant in its first conference game of the season at 3 p.m. at Quinnipiac Soccer Field.