CHICAGO (September 15, 2022) – The Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team (4-0-2) will face a stiff test when it travels to Duquesne (5-0-1) for Saturday's 6 p.m. (CT) match. The much-anticipated league opener, which marks the Ramblers' inaugural Atlantic 10 Conference match, features a pair of undefeated teams that are tied for fifth nationally in goals against average. The game will be played at DU's Rooney Field in Pittsburgh and will air on ESPN Plus.
 
Last Time Out
Off to its best start through six games since the 2016 campaign, Loyola blanked visiting IUPUI 2-0 last Tuesday in a mid-week tilt that saw 20 Ramblers get playing time. Oscar Dueso's first goal of the season came off a header in the 44th minute with an assist from Brody Phan and Jason Ybarra. Ybarra struck in the 79th minute with a banger, which tallied his first career goal, after an assist credited to Billy Hency. Goalkeeper Simon Jillson's lone save of the night was registered in the 35th minute. After posting his fourth clean sheet, which is tied for the national lead in NCAA Division I, the graduate student was listed on this week's Honorable Mention list by TopDrawerSoccer. With the IUPUI win, the Ramblers claimed their fourth straight home victory and ninth win in the last 10 home matches. Loyola is outscoring opponents 10-2 on the season but will be searching for the squad's first goal away from the friendly confines of Loyola Soccer Park. The Ramblers played to a scoreless draw in both road matches at Northwestern and UIC. Hency is leading the Ramblers with nine points, including three goals and three assists, followed by John Gates with five points on one goal and three assists. Seven different players have scored a goal for the Ramblers this season.
 
Glance at Duquesne
Duquesne, who received votes in the United Soccer Coaches national poll for the second straight week, won its first five games of the season before playing to a 1-1 draw at Wright State last Tuesday. DU was held without a shot on goal in the second half, but still led until the equalizer was scored in the 86th-minute. The Dukes picked up a massive 1-0 road win over Michigan in the season opener to ignite the early-season win streak. Under 10th-year head coach Chase Brooks, the Dukes were picked to finish seventh in the A-10 preseason poll as forward Maxi Hopfer and midfielder Nate Dragisich were named preseason all-conference honorees. Freshman Ask Ekeland is tied for the team lead in goals with junior Torge Witteborg at three each. Graduate student goalkeeper Domenic Nascimben was selected the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week and named to the TopDrawerSoccer Men's National Team of the Week. Nascimben tallied a career-high 11 saves, including a pair of penalty kick stops, in a 7-0 win over Howard last week.
 
Series Stuff
Loyola and Duquesne have only met once previously 23 years ago for a neutral-site contest in Cleveland, Ohio. The match was part of the 1999 All-Crane Rental Classic, which ended in a tightly contested 1-1 overtime draw. In fact, the Ramblers played to a 1-1 draw in both matches of that early-season tournament, earning a result against the Dukes and Towson.
 
Up Next
Loyola will have a week off before hosting George Washington on Saturday, Sept. 24, which will be the first home match against an A-10 opponent. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Loyola Soccer Park, and the game will be played among a slew of events as part of Loyola's popular 'Family Weekend'.