CHICAGO (September 1, 2021) – Coming off back-to-back wins to open the 2021 season, the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team (2-0-0) is back in action this weekend with two clashes against Big Ten Conference opposition on the docket. The Ramblers will welcome local rival Northwestern to Loyola Soccer Park on Friday, September 3 at 7 p.m. Following its matchup with the Wildcats, Loyola will head to Ann Arbor, Mich. on Monday, September 6 for a 3 p.m. (CT) tilt with Michigan at the U-M Soccer Complex.
Friday's clash with the Wildcats will serve as the program's annual "Hustle to Hoyne" game. The festivities begin with a 5:30 p.m. rally on the east quad of Loyola's Lakeshore Campus that features a giveaway of t-shirts to the first 500 students in attendance. After head coach
Neil Jones speaks to the crowd, the march to Loyola Soccer Park begins at approximately 6 p.m. in preparation for the 7 p.m. kickoff.
Last Time Out: Loyola opened the season with a pair of wins last week, taking down DePaul, 2-1, in Lincoln Park on Thursday before downing visiting Western Michigan, 4-2, on Sunday evening in Rogers Park. Senior
Billy Hency netted the deciding goals in both wins as part of a three-goal effort across the two games that saw him named the Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week in addition to earning a spot on Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week.
vs. Northwestern: Led by first-year head coach Russell Payne, Northwestern arrives in Rogers Park sitting at 0-1-1 on the year. Friday's meeting with Loyola marks the Wildcats' third consecutive road clash with a local opponent to open the season following a 2-1 overtime setback against Chicago State and a scoreless double-overtime draw with UIC. Picked eighth in the Big Ten Conference Preseason Poll, Northwestern finished the 2021 spring season at 2-8-1 overall playing a conference-only schedule.
Vicente Castro is the team's top returning point-getter from a season ago in which he dished out four assists in addition to tallying a goal. Joseph Arena (1 goal, 2 assists) and Spencer Farina (4 assists) also look to provide support in the final third for Payne's crew. Ethan Bandre and Miha Miskovic have each started in one game this season, with Miskovic holding a team-best 0.82 goals against average.
vs. Michigan: Michigan, which was tabbed third in the Big Ten Preseason Poll, currently sits at 1-0-1 on the year following a 2-1 double-overtime triumph over in-state rival Oakland last Sunday in Rochester, Mich. The Wolverines host No. 24 Duke on Thursday night. Michigan posted a 6-4-1 record during the abbreviated 2021 spring season.
Head coach Chaka Daley, now in his 10th year in charge in Ann Arbor, Mich., returns 26 letterwinners from last season, including reigning Big Ten Midfielder of the Year Marc Ybarra (2 goals, 6 assists), Kevin Buca (3 goals, 3 assists), and Bryce Blevins (3 goals). Ybarra netted the deciding goal with just three seconds remaining in Michigan's win over the Golden Grizzlies. Owen Finnerty and Hayden Evans, who both sport a 0.82 goals against average, have split time in goal for the Wolverines.
Series Stuff: Separated by just under four miles of lakefront, Loyola and Northwestern will battle for the 34th time on Friday evening in Rogers Park. The Wildcats own a 20-7-6 (.697) lead in the all-time series, but the Maroon & Gold prevailed in the most recent encounter, a 2-0 victory back on October 9, 2019 at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Ill.
Monday's Labor Day tilt marks only the sixth meeting between Loyola and Michigan in men's soccer, a series in which the Ramblers lead, 4-1-0 (.800). The two teams last met on August 30, 2013 in the first game of Jones' tenure at Loyola, with the Wolverines picking up a 5-2 win at the U-M Soccer Complex.
Up Next: Loyola is back in action on Saturday, September 11 when it wraps up non-conference play with a 7 p.m. kickoff against in-state foe Western Illinois at Loyola Soccer Park.
