The University of DePaul Blue Demons men’s soccer team ended its three-game losing streak in exciting fashion as they defeated their Redline rival the Loyola University Ramblers 2-1 on Sept. 11 at Wish Field in Lincoln Park.

Both teams started to play a more physical game late in the second half, but the Blue Demons kept their composure. During an injury time-out, following a heated exchange between the two teams, each team huddled around their coach for a final speech.

“When one of the Loyola players went down, you know coach brought us all together and said, ‘Keep your composure and connect a couple passes and the game will come to us,’’ said Brian Schultz, the Blue Demons junior midfielder.

With under 10 minutes remaining in regulation, DePaul executed its biggest scoring chance of the game, and Schultz kicked in a goal off of a deflection.

“It was just a scrappy battle in the middle and I just happened to poke through and it went in the back of the net,” Schultz said.

Loyola struck first when junior midfielder Ryan Howe scored off of a penalty kick at the 39th minute. Then, early in the second half, the Blue Demons’ midfielder responded with a penalty kick goal of his own during the 53rd minute of the game.

The Blue Demons have now beaten all the Chicago Division I soccer teams, except the Northwestern University Wildcats, who they will visit on Sept. 26 at 6pm.

“One of our goals this year was to be the best Chicago team,” Schultz said. We’re two games in and we’ve done that job. We’ve got Northwestern left and [we’re] hoping to get a clean sweep throughout Chicago.”