Victory on the road was attainable for the NIU soccer team last night as the Huskies defeated Loyola University 4-1 in Chicago.

The game was the Huskies second of the fall schedule and allowed the team to make up for the season-opening loss to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Willy Roy Jr. started all scoring with an unassisted goal at 21:02. His goal came on a free kick that found the upper-right corner of the cage.

After Roy’s goal, the momentum of the game declined for the rest of the first half as the Huskies slumped, and the half ended with NIU up 1-0.

Nine minutes into the second half, Rich Drab of Loyola scored from 3 yards on an assist from Dave Smith. Coach Willy Roy was concerned at this point.

“We blew two unbelievable chances,” Roy said. “We kind of got caught napping.”

At 62:50, John Lechner rattled the Ramblers with a ten yarder over the head of Loyola goalie Jim Ambrose. The play originated at the NIU goal when Huskie goalie Markus Roy punted the ball across the field where Lechner was able to score.

Coach Roy was impressed with the kick of Markus, which coach Roy said traveled about 80 yards. However, he jokingly suggested that the kick be kept quiet or else head football coach Jerry Pettibone might start knocking on someone’s door.

The Huskies started to control the game after this point. Coach Roy mentioned that one of his co-captains started to motivate the team by talking and pointing his finger in order to direct other players on the field on the field—something Roy said he likes to see in a captain.

Lechner scored the next NIU goal at 77:08 from 16 yards on an assist from Willy Roy Jr. The goal put the Huskies up 3-1.

With 4:45 left in the game, the Huskies were able to rap it up on another Roy Jr., goal. The pass went from Lechner to Roy who was on the right side of the field about 20 yards out. Roy put the ball in the left corner of the net to end all scoring.

Coach Roy had a lot to be thankful for after the victory.

“We had a mental down,” Roy said referring to the loss to SIU-E. “But I think the players got a little ticked off and won this one.”

Coach Roy was impressed with the officiating in the game, compared to what he was exposed to in Edwardsville.

In terms of production, Roy was pleased with the performance of Willy Roy Jr., John Lechner, and Jim Pisani who all played vital rolls in the game.

The win over Loyola gave the team its first win of the season, and will send the Huskies into Friday’s game with a 1-1 record overall. The Huskies will play Wisconsin-Green Bay at 4 p.m. on the grass fields west of Huskie Stadium.