CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team heads into its penultimate regular season game against Fordham riding a three-game win streak.

KICKING OFF

• First touch is set for tomorrow (Oct. 26) at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Michael Smolens will call the action from Moglia Stadium.
• Loyola Chicago boasts a three-match win streak before its matchup with the Rams, having beaten VCU, La Salle, and Olivet Nazarene in succession. 
• Most recently, the Maroon and Gold raced past ONU, 4-1, at Loyola Soccer Park this past Tuesday.
• Freshman forward Arved von Vegesack, who made his first career start in the game, led the way with four points (one goal and two assists). His goal, the first of his career, came after drawing a penalty kick in the 78th minute.
• Daniel Firs, who made his third career start in the win, kickstarted scoring with his first career goal, scoring off Hugo Urdiales' corner kick in the 16th minute.
• Later in the 72nd minute, TJ Cairney sent a long ball up to a racing Avon Vegesack along the sideline. The Stockholm native then fed Jack McFeely a cross who proceeded to blast the ball into the back of the net with gusto.
• Angel Mendez scored in the 74th minute. Von Vegesack notched his second assist of the night, crossing the ball to Mendez before the goal.
• Additionally, this week, Urdiales raked in his second-straight and third total Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week plaudit after scoring against No. 13 George Mason, VCU, and La Salle.

GLANCE AT FORDHAM

• Head Coach Carlo Acquista is in his sixth season guiding the Rams. He holds a 36-32-28 (.521) with Fordham and a 174-159-57 (.519) career record.
• FU has a 6-4-4 overall record and is 3-1-2 in A-10 play.
• Fordham owns a 1.786 goals per-game average, ranking fourth in the league.
• Daniel D'Ippolito sits in the top-4 of multiple offensive A-10 categories: .643 goals per-game (second), .429 assists per-game (fourth), 1.71 points per-game (second), 3.79 shots per-game (second), 1.93 shots on-goal per-game (first, eighth in the nation).
• Carter Abbott, Fordham's goalkeeper, averages 3.33 saves per-game, the sixth-best mark in the A-10. Meanwhile, his 1.186 goals against average ranks fifth-best in the conference.
• FU most recently fell 1-0 at home to Princeton, which is second in the Ivy League.
• Prior to the loss, the Rams won back-to-back matchups against Dayton (4-2) and George Washington (3-1).

NOTABLE NUMBERS AND NOTES

• Last season, Loyola Chicago compiled an 8-2-5 overall record and was 4-1-3 in conference play.
• In its third season as part of the Atlantic 10, LUC looks to earn its first conference championship since 2019.
• The Ramblers return 16 student-athletes from the 2023 roster, including nine with starting experience under their belt.
• Along with their returners, the Ramblers added 13 key pieces to the 2024 roster, including 10 freshmen and three transfers.
• The Ramblers remain undefeated when scoring two or more goals, a streak that has been ongoing since Sept. 30, 2017.
• As of Oct. 24, Loyola Chicago has the 60th-toughest schedule in DI men's soccer based on the NCAA's database. LUC's schedule is the seventh-toughest in the A-10 based off the same database.
• New to the 2024 season, the clock will stop for substitutions during the final 15 minutes if the game is tied or if the leading team makes a substitution. Substitutions are allowed during any stoppage in play. Additionally, teams are now permitted six substitutions per-game.

SERIES STUFF VS. FORDHAM

• In an all-time series that dates to 2015, the Ramblers lead Fordham, 3-0-0.
• Markus Maurer netted his sixth goal of the season in the 85th minute, propelling the Loyola Chicago to a 1-0 shutout win over Fordham last season at Hoyne field.
• In 2022, Julian Cisneros provided the game-winner in the 55th minute, with additional goals scored by Oscar Dueso and Billy Hency as the Ramblers' road win clinched a spot in the A-10 Tournament.
• In the first-ever meeting on Sept. 4, 2015, Loyola Chicago beat the Rams 2-1 in its home opener.  A Fordham own goal and Matthieu Braems goal propelled LUC to victory.   

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Tickets for Loyola Chicago's home games are on sale now! Adult tickets are priced at $7. Youth (ages 4-14) and faculty/staff tickets are available for $5. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a reduced rate of $3 each. These group tickets need to be purchased in advance. You can arrange your group outing by calling 773-508-WOLF. Click here to purchase.