CHICAGO (March 12, 2021) – The Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team (2-1-2, 1-0-1 MVC) will make its long awaited return to Loyola Soccer Park on Sunday when it welcomes in-state rival Bradley to Loyola Soccer Park for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Fan attendance is not permitted, but the game will be broadcast on The Valley on ESPN.
Last Time Out: Loyola posted its fourth shutout in as many games, blanking Evansville, 2-0, last Tuesday at Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville, Ind. Sophomore
Alex Moskal put the Ramblers on the board just over 10 minutes in, finishing from near the penalty spot. Senior
Giann Magno doubled the Maroon & Gold's lead in the 57
th minute, scoring off a volley from in excess of 30 yards out to provide the final margin of victory. Junior goalkeeper
Simon Jillson recorded five saves in his first start since the 2018 season.
vs. Bradley: Bradley brings an overall record of 2-2-0 into Sunday's clash with Loyola. The Braves currently sit at 1-2-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play following a 2-0 loss at the hands of Drake this past Tuesday at Shea Stadium in Peoria, Ill. Now in his 25th year at the head of the Braves' bench, head coach Jim DeRose's team was voted fourth in the MVC Preseason poll following a 2019 campaign in which it finished 8-7-4 (5-3-2 MVC). Leading the Bradley attack is Gerit Wintermeyer, a First Team All-MVC selection from a season ago. Wintermeyer, who has found the back of the net once this season, scored nine of the Braves' 17 goals in 2019. Washington graduate transfer Bryce Logan has played in every minute of all four games for Bradley in goal, sporting a 1.75 goals against average.
Series Stuff: Bradley holds a 15-9-2 (.615) lead in 26 previous meetings between the Ramblers and Braves in men's soccer. The all-time series between the two in-state rivals dates back to a 4-0 Bradley win back on September 19, 1981. After playing to a pair of scoreless double-overtime draws during the regular season in 2019, Loyola and Bradley met in the semifinals of the MVC Men's Soccer Championship, where tallies from
Aidan Megally and
Justin Sukow cancelled out an early own goal by the Maroon & Gold in a 2-1 triumph.
Up Next: Loyola faces a quick turnaround following its meeting with the Braves, as it heads to Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday, March 18 to battle Drake at 2 p.m.
