CHICAGO (August 28, 2022)
In Short…
Playing in front of the largest crowd in Loyola Soccer Park history, the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team (2-0-0) knocked off No. 25 Bowling Green (0-1-1) by a final score of 1-0 on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore
Benni Hofmann came off the bench and netted the game-winner in the 85th minute, lifting the Ramblers to their first win in six years against a ranked non-conference opponent.
Head Coach Steve Bode's Thoughts…
"Today was a great team win, all around. Bowling Green is a very experienced and disciplined team. We stuck with it and found a way at the end. Credit goes to our guys for finding a way to get the win today.
"A big THANK YOU to all of the fans who took part in Hustle to Hoyne today. You helped lift us when we needed it most today. Come back and see us again soon!"
How It Happened
Feeding off the energy from its home crowd, Loyola fended off an early series of attacks from a tough Bowling Green squad seeking its first goal of the season. The Falcons came out with pace and controlled majority of the possession early on, rattling off four shots including a corner kick try that was shut down by Loyola's goalkeeper
Simon Jillson near the halfway point in the opening half.
Loyola's stout back line held up against the pressure and opened up the first scoring chance for the Ramblers in the 27th minute, as
Andrew Mitchell's through ball found the foot of
Fabian Becerra who sent a shot attempt on goal.
The momentum shifted in Loyola's favor near the end of the first half, which included strong scoring opportunities for
Marc Torrellas and
Billy Hency. Torrellas ripped a line drive to the top shelf in the 35th minute, but BG goalkeeper Brendan Graves punched it above the bar. That set up Loyola's first corner try and led to a pair of shots from Torrellas and
Julian Cisneros. With the first-half clock winding down under two minutes, Hency had a clean look from the top of the box but was unsuccessful.
In the second half, both teams came out aggressive and exchanged two shot attempts within the opening 12 minutes of the period. Hency put both on target for the Ramblers, but BG's Graves held firm and went toe-to-toe with Jillson in making some impressive stops between the pipes. After Jillson's save in the 58th minute, things slowed down as BG transitioned into more of a patient, methodical attack – there was only one shot attempt over the next 24 minutes of play which came off the foot of BG's biggest offensive threat, Alberto Anaya, at the 75th minute.
Heading into the later stages of the match, Loyola built up play in the attacking third and put pressure on the Falcons. The Ramblers took a back-to-back corner kick attempts near the 82' mark, the second of which resulted in a shot off the post from Cisneros who tried to go upper 90. However,
John Gates controlled the rebound and worked his way to space near the corner, where he crossed the ball into the box. Graves punched it out to avoid disaster for the Falcons as
Oscar Dueso nearly found the header, but the ball went straight to Hofmann who got it down on his left foot and blasted it into the back of the net. Hofmann had just come on in a flurry of late substitutions for the Ramblers only a few minutes prior to scoring his second career goal.
From there, the Falcons would manage to get off a final shot attempt in the 89th minute that went off target.
Loyola improved to 23-6-4 at the friendly confines of Loyola Soccer Park since 2018.
Looking at the Numbers
- The recorded attendance of 1,163 fans is the highest ever in the history of Loyola Soccer Park, in addition to the most students in attendance with 983
- The previous attendance record was 1,023 at the NCAA Tournament match in 2016, while the previous student attendance record was 716 at last year's Hustle to Hoyne game
- The victory marked Loyola's third 2-0 start to a season in the last four years
- It was Loyola's first time moving past a ranked opponent at home since Nov. 17, 2019 (#9 Missouri State 2-2, 5-4 PK's to win MVC Title)
- Loyola's first win over a ranked opponent since April 8, 2021, when the Ramblers beat No. 8 Missouri State 2-0
- Loyola's first win over a ranked non-conference opponent since a 2-0 win over No. 12/8 Utah Valley on Sept. 9, 2016 (played in DeKalb)
- The Ramblers' first win at Loyola Soccer Park over a ranked non-conference opponent since defeating No. 20 Northwestern 1-0 OT on Oct. 29, 2014
- Hofmann netted his first goal of the season and the second goal in 13 matches with the Ramblers, dating back to last season. It was his first game-winner
- Gates registered his third career assist and first of the season
- Shot attempts were nearly even as the Ramblers held a slight edge, 10-9, but Loyola notched a 7-3 advantage in shots on frame
- Hency led the Ramblers with three shots on goal
- Becerra, Torrellas, Cisneros and Hofmann each tallied one shot on target
- Jillson (2-0-0) logged three saves, including two in the second half for his first clean sheet of the season. It was his fourth career shutout while running his career record to 6-4-0
- BG's keeper Graves recorded six saves with three in each half
Up Next
Loyola travels to local rival Northwestern on Friday, Sept. 2, for a 7 p.m. match in Evanston, before heading to UIC for another 7 p.m. road match on Monday, Sept. 5 (Labor Day).
