CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team heads north for a crosstown clash with Northwestern tomorrow (Aug. 29). First touch from Martin Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Plus.

KICKING OFF

• Loyola Chicago and Northwestern are set to clash for the first time since 2022, despite being separated by just four miles.
• The Ramblers are coming off a 0-0 draw with Purdue Fort Wayne this past Sunday.
• A crowd of 1,005 spectators packed the program's annual Hustle to Hoyne match, marking the largest home-game attendance since the 2022 edition of the event.
• Loyola Chicago totaled 17 shots in the scoreless tie, six of them on goal. The Ramblers held Purdue Fort Wayne to only two shots. Goalkeeper Gabe Velasco led Loyola with two saves while notching his first-career shutout.
• Hugo Urdiales led LUC with four shots against the Mastodons. Two landed on-target. Jack McFeely and Petar Janjic were close behind with three shots each.
• Prior to the match, senior goalkeeper Aidan Crawford was surprised by ESPN's Holly Rowe with the news that he had been named captain of the inaugural Allstate NACDA Good Works Team (Fall), which honors 20 student-athletes nationwide for leadership, service and community impact.
• Loyola Chicago opened the season with a 3-2 win over Oakland at Hoyne Field. Jack McFeely and Antonio Pinto scored early before Petar Janjić's game-winner in the 62nd minute sealed the victory for the Ramblers.

GLANCE AT NORTHWESTERN

• Head Coach Russell Payne holds a 30-29-12 (.507) record in five seasons at Northwestern.
• Current Loyola assistant coach Ricardo Pinto served on Payne's staff from 2021 to 2023.
• NU is 2-0 this season after earning wins versus Eastern Illinois and Air Force.
• Fritz Volmar (Defensive) and Aaron O'Reilly (freshman) earned Big Ten weekly honors recently.

NOTABLE NUMBERS AND NOTES

• Hugo Urdiales, a 2024 All-Conference and CSC Academic All-District pick, started 13 matches with 987 minutes last season. A three-time A-10 Rookie of the Week, he led Loyola in goals, shots, and points. He was recently named to the A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team.
• LUC was picked No. 7 in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches' Poll. Defending champion Dayton was picked to repeat, receiving a league-high eight first-place votes and 159 points, while George Mason and Saint Louis rounded out the top three. Loyola garnered 91 points in the poll, which is voted on by the conference's 13 head coaches.
• It was a busy offseason for the Ramblers. Grant Bailey was selected 86th overall by D.C. United in the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft but is back to continue play with LUC.
• Former Ramblers Julian Cisneros and Marc Torrelles were both signed to FC Naples in the USL League One. The duo has been very impressive in their rookie season with the club.
• The team spent spring break in Italy, spending time in Milan, Lake Como, Parma, and Rome while facing off against Serie D teams.
• LUC downed Northwestern to cap their spring slate, earning the Chicago Cup for the fourth time since its inception in 2010.
• Bode signed nine newcomers, including transfers from Notre Dame (Mateo Acosta) and North Carolina (Gabe Velasco).
• Assistant coach Ricardo Pinto is back on staff with LUC after a brief hiatus from the team. Kervin Kenton, a former pro, also came on board as an assistant coach.
• 2025 marks the first season without former A-10 member Massachusetts in the league. The Minutemen departed for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in July.
• This season, LUC returns 17 student-athletes and seven starters who were responsible for 21 of the 24 goals scored in 2024. Additionally, 59 of 72 points accumulated were racked up by returning Ramblers.
• Head Coach Steve Bode is in his fourth season at the helm of Loyola Chicago men's soccer. He holds a 23-13-15 career record with the Maroon and Gold.

SERIES STUFF VS. NORTHWESTERN

• In an all-time series that dates to 1982, Loyola trails, 8-21-7.
• In the most recent meeting on Sept. 2, 2022, the two teams played to a scoreless draw at Martin Stadium.
• The Ramblers held a 15-5 shot advantage, including a late chance from Billy Hency that struck the crossbar in the 89th minute. The result marked the seventh draw between the teams and the first since 2008.
• The 'Blers held a 2-1 edge in corner kicks as all three were taken in the second half.
• The Ramblers' last win over NU came on Oct. 9, 2019, when LUC defeated Northwestern, 2-0, at Martin Stadium. Aidan Megally scored two goals for the second match in a row to lead the Ramblers to victory.
• Loyola held Northwestern shot-less in the first half and Alex Moskal notched his first career assist.

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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.