Live Video vs. Xavier | Live Stats vs. Xavier 

CHICAGO (August 23, 2017) – With its three-game preseason slate now complete, the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team is preparing to officially open the 2017 season.  The Ramblers will lift the lid on the new year by traveling to Cincinnati, Ohio to take on Xavier on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. (CT).
 
2017 Preview: Fifth-year head coach Neil Jones' team will be looking to build off of one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2017. Loyola, which was recently selected as the Missouri Valley Conference's preseason favorite, racked up a school-record 14 victories en route to claiming the MVC regular-season title and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win. 12 letterwinners return from that team, including five All-Missouri Valley Conference selections, while the Ramblers have also added a highly-acclaimed group of 11 newcomers.
 
vs. Xavier: Xavier finished the 2016 season with a record of 8-8-3 that included a mark of 4-4-1 in BIG EAST Conference play.  Head coach Andy Fleming, set to begin his eighth year at Xavier, welcomes back 19 letterwinners from last season.  That group is led by defender Cory Brown, the reigning BIG EAST Defender of the Year.  Friday's season-opening clash will mark the 11^th meeting in the all-time series between the Ramblers and Musketeers in men's soccer.  Loyola has prevailed in each of the last three contests, most recently picking up a 1-0 overtime win back on Sept. 15, 2006.
 
After This: Following its matchup with Xavier, Loyola will return home to host a pair of games as part of the DoubleTree by Hilton North Shore Chicago Classic.  MVC newcomer Valparaiso will provide the opposition in the 2017 home opener next Friday (Sept.1) at 7 p.m. before the Maroon & Gold close out the weekend with a 1 p.m. clash against La Salle the following Sunday (Sept. 3).