BOYS' SOCCER: LOYOLA 3, CRESPI 1 LOYOLA GETS ITS REVENGE CUBS EARN THEIR FIRST LEAGUE WIN.

Byline: HEATHER GRIPP Staff Writer

Many of the players were on the sidelines last time, but that didn't keep a Loyola of LosAngeles boys' soccer team loaded with newcomers from being hungry for revenge.

In their first meeting since Crespi of Encino won the Mission League title in last year's regular-season finale, Loyola defeated the host Celts 3-1 on Friday for the Cubs' first league victory in what is expected to be another down-to-the-wire race.

``We've only got three of our main guys back from last year,'' Loyola coach Chris Walter said. ``But they've all been looking forward to this game.

``It's a bit of payback, they're the ones who knocked us out last year. The guys talked about it before the game.

``We're happy with this, we played much better than we did the other day. Our defense played really well.''

Senior Josh Brown gave the Cubs the lead for good in the 36th minute when he got a rebound at the top of the box and fired it in for the only score of the first half.

Brown scored twice for Loyola (12-5-2, 1-0-1), which was coming off a scoreless tie against sub-.500 Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. Senior sweeper Conor Hearn provided the Cubs' other goal on a penalty kick in the 57th minute.

Crespi midfielder Steve Arau shot through a crowd in front of the net, past diving Loyola goalkeeper Kevin Klasila in the 68thminute, to bring the Celts (9-4-1, 1-1-0) within one at 2-1 and spoil the Cubs' bid for their 10th shutout of the season. The late rally evoked memories of the teams' previous meeting in which Crespi trailed 2-0 but scored twice in the final 10 minutes to claim its first league title in 20 years. This time, however, Loyola was too much to overcome for a Celts team that played much of the second half a man down.

Crespi defender Sonny Onorati was red carded in the 57thminute after igniting an altercation that briefly delayed the game and also resulted in a yellow card for for Brown.

``This has always been a very difficult place for us to play,'' Walter said. ``They beat us the last two years in a row here. They've got their fans here and it always gets pretty heated. ... So that makes it a little more special.''

Brown capped the scoring in stoppage time after being awarded a penalty kick. Crespi goalkeeper Brandon Ibarra blocked Brown's initial shot, but Brown scored on the rebound.

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Crespi's Sonny Onorati gets above Loyola's Jamil Devers during their game at Crespi on Friday night. Loyola won 3-1.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

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