CHICAGO (November 18, 2019) – Making their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance, the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team will travel to Lexington, Ky. on Thursday to meet the Kentucky Wildcats for the first time in program history. The First Round pairing will kick-off at Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex at 6 p.m. central time.
 
Last Time Out: Loyola competed in a thrilling battle with ninth-ranked Missouri State on Sunday afternoon with the MVC Championship on the line. The Ramblers and Bears entered the second half scoreless, until MVC Offensive Player of the Year Matthew Bentley notched a goal for Missouri State in the 57^th minute. With just over a minute to go in the match, Missouri State fouled and granted Loyola a free kick which presented junior Justin Sukow with a final opportunity. Sukow fired to a waiting crowd inside the box and junior Tyler Biggs knocked the header goal, which was the first of his collegiate career. The match moved to overtime, but neither team was able to execute. The team's faced off in a penalty kick shootout and Loyola came out on top, 5-4 after Ethan Stoneman completed the final make for the Ramblers. Megally was named the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Tournament MVP, for his performance and leadership in helping Loyola advance to the tournament. In addition to Megally, Hency, Sukow and Andrew Mitchell were also named to the All-Tournament team.
 
vs. Kentucky: Kentucky (12-4-3, 4-2-1 Conference USA) fell to top-seeded Marshall in the C-USA Tournament, 1-0 on Friday. Despite leading the shot count, the Wildcats were held scoreless for the fourth time this season. Second-team All-C-USA forward Daniel Evans anchored the UK offensive attack with three shots, while goalkeeper Enrique Facusse tallied three saves. Evans leads Kentucky with seven goals and five assists this season, while First-team All-C-USA junior midfielder Kalil ElMedkhar has racked up six goals and seven assists. Under the direction of three-time conference USA Coach of the Year Johan Cedergren in his ninth season, the Wildcats are 9-1-1 at Kroger Field this year. Redshirt junior Aime Mabika was named C-USA Player of the Year, Co-Defensive MVP and First Team All-Conference. Kentucky is making its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Last season, the Wildcats defeated Lipscomb in the Sweet Sixteen, 2-1 before falling to #11 Maryland, 0-1 in the Elite Eight.
 
Series Stuff: Loyola and Kentucky will meet for the first time in Thursday's NCAA Tournament opener in Lexington. The Ramblers hold a 2-1 record against Conference USA opponents. The last time Loyola faced a Conference-USA opponent in 2015, when Loyola defeated Florida Atlantic 2-1 on Sept. 13 in DeKalb, Ill.
 
Up Next: The winner of Thursday's match-up will advance to the Second Round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship to face the fifth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers.