CHICAGO (August 19, 2021) – Following a spring season in which in came within a game of a securing a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team has been picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference following the release of the preseason poll of the league's head coaches on Thursday.
 
The Ramblers accumulated 29 points to finish seven points back of reigning MVC regular season and tournament champion Missouri State, which swept all six first-place votes to sit first with 36 points.  Drake (23 points) took third, while SIUE (19 points), which returns to The Valley as an affiliate member for men's soccer this season, landed fourth.  Bradley (10 points) and Evansville (9 points) rounded out the poll.
 
Loyola was represented on the Preseason All-MVC team, which was released alongside the poll.  Graduate student Tyler Biggs (Sylvania, Ohio/Sylvania Northview) and senior Billy Hency (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit) received recognition.
 
Biggs was a fixture in the defensive midfield for the Ramblers last season, starting in all 13 games en route to being named a First Team All-Valley pick.  The Sylvania, Ohio product played in 1,205 out of a possible 1,214 minutes of game action, contributing to seven shutouts in the process.  He also made his presence felt on the offensive end, firing home the deciding goal in Loyola's 2-0 blanking of in-state rival Bradley on March 14.
 
Hency racked up honors during a terrific junior campaign, starting in eight of his nine appearances.  The Fenton, Mo. native was selected as both the MVC Player of the Year and MVC Midfielder of the Year, in addition to taking home First Team All-Valley accolades.  Also tabbed a First Team All-West Region pick by the United Soccer Coaches, Hency closed the year with a team-high six goals and dished out four assists to finish as the Maroon & Gold's overall points leader (16). 
 
After wrapping up its exhibition slate on Saturday, August 21 at Marquette, Loyola officially opens the 2021 season when it makes the short trip south to Lincoln Park for a 4 p.m. matchup with DePaul on Thursday, August 26.
 
2021 MVC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Missouri State (6 first-place votes) – 36
2. Loyola – 29
3. Drake – 23
4. SIUE - 19
5. Bradley – 10
6. Evansville – 9
 
Preseason All-MVC Team
Bryce Logan (Bradley)
Istvan Wilhelms (Drake)
Bradan Allen (Drake)
Pablo Guillen (Evansville)
Billy Hency (Loyola)
Tyler Biggs (Loyola)
Nicolo Mulatero (Missouri State)
Aadne Bruseth (Missouri State)
Kyle Hiebert (Missouri State)
Josh Dolling (Missouri State)
Kian Yari (Missouri State)
Oskar Lenz (SIUE)