BALTIMORE, Md. – The Lafayette men's soccer team dropped their first Patriot League contest of the season, falling to Loyola 4-2, on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore Sebastian Varela and senior James Gibson led the way for the Leopards, each with a goal. Senior Ryan Goncalves, senior Dylan Royalty and freshman Hale Lombard each tallied an assist and senior Adam Bramson tallied two shots, one being on goal. Varela's goal was his sixth of the season and Gibson's was his third.

The loss marks the first Patriot League loss for the Leopards this season and just their third loss of the season overall. Despite the loss, the Leopards are still off to one of the best starts the program has seen since 2007.

The game started off in a defensive battle with neither side taking a shot on goal through 11 minutes of action. The Greyhounds who would struck first in the 29^th minute off a free kick header, to make it 1-0 Loyola. They would then tack on another in the 34^th minute to make it 2-0.

The Leopards answered for the first time in the game two minutes later off a free kick header of their own by Gibson, fed to him by Goncalves, to cut Loyola's lead in half. But it would be Loyola who would get the final say of the half, netting their third goal of the game off a penalty kick, making it 3-1 heading into the locker rooms.

The Maroon and White tried to make a push late in the second half, tacking on another goal by Varela off a cross from the right side by Lombard, to make it 3-2. The Greyhounds would have the last say though in the 78^th minute to make it 4-2.

The Leopards return home for a three game home stretch, kicking it off on Saturday night with a Patriot League matchup with last year's Patriot League tournament champions, Colgate. They host Stony Brook for their final nonconference matchup of the season on Tuesday before welcoming American for a Saturday afternoon matchup on October 19.