BRONX, N.Y. (October 29, 2022)
 
In Short
Needing a win to clinch a postseason berth, Loyola University Chicago (7-2-6, 3-2-3 A-10) held off Fordham (3-4-9, 1-2-5 A-10) for a 3-2 road victory Saturday at Jack Coffey Field. Julian Cisneros provided the game-winner in the 55th minute, with additional goals scored by Oscar Dueso and Billy Hency. With the victory, Loyola earned its first road win of the season and hasn't lost in six straight outings.

Update: After winning a three-way tiebreaker, Loyola has earned the fourth seed in the 2022 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Championship and will host fifth-seeded George Washington in a 3 p.m. CT quarterfinal match on Saturday, Nov. 5. The eight-team, single-elimination tournament will stream live on ESPN+. Click here to view the bracket.
 
How It Happened
After goalkeeper Simon Jillson set the tone with an early save, Loyola slowly built pressure in the attacking zone with open runs and quick chances in transition.
 
The Ramblers eventually found opportunities and rattled off five shot attempts in a span of five minutes, highlighted by Dueso's strike in the 17th minute for a 1-0 lead. Andrew Schweinert provided the assist after he stole a pass at midfield and converted the breakaway chance by finding Dueso streaking to the box.
 
Fordham leveled the score in the 28th minute on a counterattack, following a shot on target by Fabian Becerra which was saved by Rams' keeper Callum James. Timo Hummrich flicked in a header off a cross to even the score at 1-1.
 
The rest of the first half was played even with only one shot attempt, which was taken by Becerra, over the final 15-plus minutes.
 
Shortly after halftime, Loyola grabbed the lead again on Hency's strike in the 48th minute – a rocket from distance that buzzed past James into the back of the net. Hency made a defender miss and made an excellent touch to work into open space after the Ramblers quickly transitioned with a defensive stop at midfield.
 
However, Fordham quickly turned around and found its second equalizer from Hummrich who converted a penalty less than two minutes later.
 
Loyola never wavered though and kept its foot on the gas with quality pace and possession.
 
The Ramblers broke through with the game-winner in the 55th-minute as Cisneros cleaned up a rebound off a brilliant set piece. Hency delivered a perfect free kick into the box, which was headed on by Dueso and saved, before Cisneros led a crash of players at the net.
 
In the 67th minute, John Gates broke free on a breakaway run, blazing past his defender to find a decent chance in the box but lost his footing as the shot attempt sailed high.
 
Loyola defended well against a corner kick in the 77th minute to prevent a shot attempt, much like it did for majority of the match and throughout the second half. The Rams had one final look in the 87th minute as Jillson picked up his third save to preserve the victory.
 
Inside The Numbers

• Loyola hasn't lost in 6 straight matches (2-0-4)
• It's the first win for Loyola this season after a tied halftime score
• Fordham hasn't won in 8 straight matches (0-3-5)
• Three goals are the most scored in a road game for the Ramblers
• Overall, Loyola has scored three or more goals on five different occasions
• Hency picked up his 27th career goal and now has 78 career points (27-24-78)
• Becerra recorded a career-high five shot attempts and Dueso tied his career-best with four
• Dueso tallied a career-high three points for the fourth time in his career
• Cisneros scored his first goal of the season and fourth game-winner of his career
• Schweinert notched his first career assist