CHICAGO (August 26, 2022)
In Short…
The
Steve Bode era got off to a fast start as the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team moved past Bucknell in a decisive 4-1 victory, featuring a brace from redshirt senior midfielder
Billy Hency, during Friday night's season opener at Loyola Soccer Park.
Head Coach Steve Bode's Thoughts…
"We are very proud of the effort the team put in tonight. We had a very productive preseason where the guys bonded as a team, both on and off the field. I think the work they put in the past two weeks really showed tonight. Now we rest and recover for a great challenge against Bowling Green on Sunday."
How It Happened
Loyola built a 4-0 lead with a pair of goals in each half and never looked back.
The Ramblers pressured early and often in the attacking third, forcing Bucknell on its heels and disrupting action for the Bison all night.
Sophomore forward
John Gates scored the first Rambler goal of the season in the 25th minute, after converting a brilliant pass sent over the top and into the box from junior defender
Lukas Ender, who was credited with the assist. All Gates had to do was poke a light touch across the front of the keeper to the far side of the net.
Shortly after in the 32nd minute, Hency struck on a one-timer from close range after Julian Cisnero's shot attempt was blocked by a Bison defender. Recognizing he had space, Hency timed an awkward bounce perfectly as he let the ball hit the turf twice and blasted a left-footed shot between the legs of Bucknell goalkeeper Bennett Schwartz, who made a great effort by recovering from a dive on the blocked shot attempt.
Loyola goalkeeper
Simon Jillson, making his first appearance since the Spring 2021 season, logged an impressive highlight save on a Bucknell penalty attempt right before halftime. That preserved a clean first period and kept all the momentum on the Ramblers' side.
In the second half, senior midfielder
Marc Torrellas got the scoring started again with an impressive strike from 30 yards. Working from the left side, he gathered a failed clear attempt by a Bison defender and launched a line-drive strike that slipped inside the near post.
Less than a minute later, Hency converted another Bison turnover into the Ramblers' fourth goal of the night by winning a one-on-one from close range.
Bucknell scored its lone goal in the 78th minute when Michael Dempsey found the back of the net, assisted off a throw in by Jackson Sullivan.
It was the fifth straight win in a home opener as the Ramblers improved to 22-6-4 at the friendly confines of Loyola Soccer Park since 2018.
Looking at the Numbers
- Hency tallied career goal numbers 21 and 22, along with his fourth career brace.
- It was Hency's first outing with a pair of goals since the second game of the 2021 season last fall, when he scored twice in a 4-2 win over Western Michigan.
- Jillson recorded a pair of saves and improved to 5-4-0 in his career between the pipes.
- Gates logged his third career goal while Ender notched his fourth career assist.
- Loyola outshot Bucknell 17-7 overall including 9-3 in the second half
- Loyola had 10 corner kicks in the match before the visitors attempted one, as the Ramblers finished with a 10-2 edge.
- Four individuals made their Rambler debut, including Bryan Silver, Kamran Tejumola, Matthew Andrusko and Quinton Blair.
Up Next
Loyola welcomes No. 25 Bowling Green to Loyola Soccer Park for the annual "Hustle to Hoyne" game on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. and the match will air on ESPN+. The Falcons played to a scoreless draw at DePaul on Friday.
