BALTIMORE, Md. - A brilliant first half connection between Taku Takahashi and Troy Elgersma gave the American University men's soccer team a 1-0 lead against Loyola Maryland on Friday night, and the Eagles held their advantage to earn their second win in as many weeks. AU is now out to a 2-0 start in Patriot League play, and 2-4-1 overall.

Notable

• Elgersma scored his team-leading third goal of the season, while Takahashi delivered his second assist. His other assist was also to Elgersma, when the two connected similarly on a free kick against Cal Baptist in the first match of the season. 
• AU was outshot 11-7, but allowed just three shots on goal. Matthew Tibbetts came up with three saves, including a diving stop in the 88^th minute. 
• The Eagles were booked for zero cards for the just the second time this season, and committed just five fouls to Loyola's 10 in a clean defensive performance. 
• This was also American's second clean sheet of the season. 

How it Happened 

• The Greyhounds created the first scoring chance of the match in the seventh minute, getting two shots off in the same attacking possession.
• Cole McEvoy made a run up the right flank and found space just outside the 18, firing a shot that Tibbetts slid to and saved with his right shoulder. The rebound bounced to Richie Nichols, who rocketed his shot high above the crossbar. 
• After a quiet spell of play, Chris Sullivan had AU's first good look at goal. A deflected ball off a corner kick fell to him at the top of the box, and his left-footed try went just wide left of the goal. 
• Tibbetts came up with another denial that loomed large in the 32^nd minute to keep the score level. On a two-on-one break for the home side, he dove and got two hands to an open shot from Michael Ajagbe at the bottom left corner. 
• 11 minutes later, the breakthrough came for the Eagles. After a foul was drawn by Nicholas Beil near midfield, Takahashi had a chance to deliver the ball into a dangerous area from the top of the attacking third. 
• The graduate defender carved a gorgeous cross into the box that found the right foot of Elgersma, who played the ball with impeccable touch into the bottom right corner of the net. A highlight-reel connection, AU was out in front with an exclamation point. 
• Chasing an equalizer, the Greyhounds took the first five shots of the second half and six total. The Eagles did well defensively to limit space in the attacking third, allowing just one of Loyola's shot to be put on frame. 
• The nail in the coffin was applied via Tibbetts' third save of the night in the 88^th minute. Nichols tried his luck from well outside the box, bending a shot that was headed for the top left corner. Tibbetts got a great jump off his line, rising to the well-placed shot and deflecting it out of play. 

Up Next

• The Eagles have a quick turnaround, coming home to face UNCW in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. They'll be back in Patriot League action on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. when they host Army.

Keep Up With Us

• For the latest on American University Men's Soccer, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (@AU_MSoccer) and Instagram (@au.msoccer).