CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team commences its fourth season of Atlantic 10 action this Saturday (Sept. 20) at Rhode Island. First touch from URI Soccer Complex is set for 11 a.m. CT. The match will not be live streamed but live stats are available.

KICKING OFF

• The Ramblers open their pursuit of an Atlantic 10 Championship this weekend, with the first goal of securing a spot among the conference's top eight by November.
• Loyola is 1-1-1 in league openers since joining the A-10. Meanwhile, a win Saturday would mark Loyola Chicago's first-ever over the Rams.
• Last time out, the Maroon and Gold fell, 3-1, against UIC at home. The Flames are now receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll.
• Freshman Antonio Pinto scored his fourth goal of the season in the 26th minute, assisted by Hugo Urdiales and Grant Bailey.
• UIC answered with three straight goals, including a brace from Jacobo Cruz (55', 67').
• Goalkeeper Aidan Crawford, making his second start of the season, tallied six saves, while Urdiales led Loyola with four shots.
• UIC out-shot Loyola, 25-15 (9-3 on target); attendance was 522 on Latine Heritage Appreciation Night.
• Prior to the loss, Loyola downed SIUE on the road, 2-1, after overcoming a 1-0 halftime deficit.
• Loyola tied it in the 76th on Luka Ivancic's first goal, then Ben Bischoff netted the 78th-minute winner after SIUE went down to 10 men.
• Following Saturday, the Ramblers return home for a Family Weekend meeting with George Mason Sept. 27.

GLANCE AT RHODE ISLAND

• Head Coach Gareth Elliott is in his 13th season leading Rhody. He holds a record of 103-81-32 (.551).
• This season, Rhode Island's (1-4-2, 0-0-1 A-10) offense is led by Theo Harris and Daniel Goba. The duo has two goals each.
• The Rams have utilized two goalkeepers thus far in 2025, with Lenno Schmidt having an edge in saves per game (3.75) and minutes played (360).
• The Rams are second in the Atlantic 10 in saves per game (4.43), but last in shots per game (2.86).

NOTABLE NUMBERS AND NOTES

• Hugo Urdiales, a 2024 All-Conference and CSC Academic All-District pick, started 13 matches and logged 987 minutes last season. A three-time A-10 Rookie of the
• Week, he led Loyola in goals, shots and points, and was recently named to the A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Loyola was picked seventh in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches' Poll. Defending champion Dayton topped the poll with eight first-place votes, followed by George
• Mason and Saint Louis. The Ramblers earned 91 points in the voting by the league's 13 head coaches.
• The offseason featured plenty of activity. Grant Bailey, selected 86th overall by D.C. United in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, returns for another season with Loyola.
• Former Ramblers Julian Cisneros and Marc Torrelles signed with FC Naples in USL League One, where they've impressed in their rookie campaigns.
• The team also spent spring break in Italy, traveling to Milan, Lake Como, Parma and Rome while facing Serie D competition.
• On the sidelines, assistant coach Ricardo Pinto returned to the staff, while former pro Kervin Kenton joined as an assistant as well.
• This season marks the first without former A-10 member Massachusetts, which moved to the Mid-American Conference in July.
• Loyola returns 17 players and seven starters responsible for 21 of its 24 goals last season, along with 59 of 72 points.
• Head coach Steve Bode, entering his fourth year at the helm, has signed nine newcomers and owns a 24-15-17 career record with the Ramblers.

SERIES STUFF VS. RHODE ISLAND

• In an all-time series that dates to 2022, Rhode Island leads, 1-0-2.
• Most recently, Loyola Chicago fell to the Rams, 1-0, at home on Oct. 5, 2024.
• Loyola's 23 shots in the loss were the team's second-most of the season in a single game.
• Rhode Island was limited to four shots.
• Grant Bailey led the way with four shots.
• Julian Cisneros, Ben Bischof, and Daniel Firs tallied three shots each.
• Aidan Crawford had one save.
• In 2023, the teams ended in a 0-0 draw at Rhode Island while in 2022, the first-ever meeting, the match ended in a 1-1 draw at Loyola Soccer Park.

FOLLOW THE RAMBLERS
Fans can receive the most up-to-date information by following @RamblersMSOC on X and Instagram.

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.