Game Notes
Live Stream vs. LMU | Live Stats vs. LMU  
Live Stream vs. Oakland | Live Stats vs. Oakland 

CHICAGO (August 30, 2018) – The Loyola-Chicago men's soccer team is back in action Labor Day Weekend to play two matches in the Hampton Inn at Loyola Chicago Classic. The Ramblers' Friday night tilt is a battle of the Loyola's – a 7:30 p.m. first kick against the Loyola-Marymount Lions. The Maroon and Gold will conclude the weekend against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at 5 p.m. on Sunday evening. Both matches will serve as the second event of a doubleheader with the women's soccer team.
 
Last Time Out: A number of firsts happened with the Ramblers last time out against Cleveland State (Aug. 31). The Ramblers got their first win of the season with a 1-0 defeat of the Vikings on Monday, by extension making it the first regular season victory at Loyola Soccer Park in 2018. Fellow freshmen Vasco Cardoso and Fabian Becerra compiled their first collegiate points, with Cardoso notching the goal and Becerra recording the assist. The 1-0 victory also led to junior Josh Lagudah's first career win and shutout between the pipes.
 
A Look at Loyola-Marymount: Loyola-Marymount, picked to finish seventh in the West Coast Conference, enters the weekend 1-1 with their victory coming against UC Riverside on Aug. 24. The Lions welcome back 18 players, including sophomore forward Kris Fourcand who was named to the 2017 WCC All-Freshman team. Despite only having 15 shots through two matches, the Lions rank second in the conference in points on the young season with 12, and are tied for second in goals with four. Two of those goals were scored by sophomore forward Francis Avoce, who is a perfect 2-for-2 on shot attempts thus far. Loyola-Marymount is coached by Paul Krumpe, who is beginning his second decade of work this season at the helm of the Lions' men's soccer program.
 
A Look at Oakland: Oakland, picked sixth in the preseason Horizon poll, is riding high after a thrilling 3-2 victory against Marshall on Aug. 27. Senior midfielder Jacob Moore posted the game-winning tally in the 82^nd minute to propel the Grizzlies to their first victory of the season. Oakland also returns a number of key contributors from last year's team, most notably Nyal Higgins who was selected to the All-Horizon League Second Team. RS-junior Nebojsa Popovic provides stability to the forward core and is fresh off a six-assist season that led the team. The Grizzlies are looking to rebound from a disappointing 6-10-1 overall record last year, and return to winning Horizon League championships – a feat they accomplished in 2014 and 2015.

After This: Loyola finishes its first four-match homestand on Sept. 7 against Northwestern. The match against the Wildcats is the annual 'Hustle To Hoyne' event that begins with a rally at St. Ignatius Plaza at 5:30 p.m. Students in attendance receive a t-shirt at the beginning of the march, and the first 500 students through the gate are entitled to a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich.