CHICAGO – Loyola University Chicago head men's soccer coach Kevin Robson has announced the addition of 13 student-athletes to the Ramblers' roster ahead of the 2026 season.
The class features players from some of the top collegiate programs and youth development academies in North America and Europe, including Indiana, Michigan State, Penn State, Grand Canyon, Massachusetts, Chicago FC United MLS NEXT, Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, Los Angeles FC Academy, Louisville City Academy, Sporting Kansas City and Cork City FC.
"This is a complete class that we are extremely excited about," said Robson. "We added impact players that will help immediately as well as players that we can build with for the future. I really want to thank the previous regime as well as the current staff for their hard work in making this a top class. The Midwest will be a priority for us, and we were able to land high-end players from key markets."
Transfers
Riley Ferraro | Forward | Vancouver, British Columbia | Penn State
Ferraro joins Loyola after spending his freshman season at Penn State and developing through the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy system. A versatile forward capable of playing on either side of the attack, Ferraro consistently competed above his age group and earned Vancouver Whitecaps U16 Player of the Year honors and Academy Starting XI recognition. He also trained with the club's second team and received consideration from Canada's national team program.
Chimnosoh Okeke | Forward | Laval, Quebec | Michigan State
Okeke arrives after one season at Michigan State, where he appeared in 16 matches and made four starts as a freshman. He scored his first collegiate goal and recorded an assist against Ohio State while adding assists against Michigan and Penn State. Across 757 minutes of action, he totaled 24 shots, including 11 on target. Prior to Michigan State, Okeke competed for Club de Soccer RDP and gained international experience with Varzim Club in Portugal and Díter Zafra Club in Spain. He helped Varzim Club capture a conference championship in Portugal's National League in 2022.
Braeden Wright | Midfielder/Defender | St. Petersburg, Florida | Massachusetts
A graduate transfer from Massachusetts, Wright brings versatility and experience to the Loyola lineup. During his time with the Minutemen, he appeared in 11 matches. Prior to college, Wright was a two-year captain at Shorecrest Preparatory School, where he totaled 14 goals and 19 assists while helping lead the program to a Florida Class 2A state championship. He earned Golden Boot and MVP honors and excelled academically, earning Dean's List recognition for eight consecutive semesters and induction into Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society.
Seth Stewart | Midfielder | Oswego, Illinois | Indiana
Stewart joins Loyola after spending four seasons at Indiana, where he was part of teams that reached the 2022 NCAA College Cup, won the 2023 Big Ten Tournament and captured Big Ten regular-season titles in 2023 and 2024. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Stewart appeared in 14 matches with three starts during the 2024 campaign after seeing action in six matches as a freshman in 2022.
Max Ionita | Goalkeeper | Chicago, Illinois | Grand Canyon
A local product, Ionita returns home after beginning his collegiate career at Grand Canyon University. The 6-foot-3 goalkeeper developed with Sockers FC Chicago and starred at James B. Conant High School, where he earned Golden Glove honors. He plans to study business and kinesiology at Loyola.
Zach Dunne | Midfielder/Forward | Cork, Ireland | University College Cork
Dunne joins the Ramblers as a junior transfer after competing with Cork City FC and University College Cork. He earned Irish Schoolboy caps against England, Wales and Northern Ireland and graduated from Presentation Brothers College in 2023. Dunne plans to major in business at Loyola.
Incoming Freshmen
Nico Kehayov | Midfielder | Northbrook, Illinois | Glenbrook North/Chicago FC United
A central attacking midfielder, Kehayov comes to Loyola after a successful MLS NEXT career with Chicago FC United. He helped his teams reach consecutive MLS NEXT playoff appearances and scored during postseason play at the U17 level. Kehayov was recently invited to a Bulgarian National Team tryout and plans to major in marketing.
Cohen Havill | Defender | Evansville, Indiana | Reitz Memorial/Louisville City Academy
Havill arrives after an accomplished high school career that saw him score 71 goals and add 24 assists. A United Soccer Coaches All-American and first-team all-state selection, Havill also trained with Louisville City FC's professional side and made a professional appearance against C.D. Leganés. He plans to study business and accounting.
Caden Lee | Midfielder | Las Vegas, Nevada | Nevada Learning Academy/Sporting Kansas City
Lee has emerged as one of Nevada's top midfield playmakers. He earned All-4A Mountain League and all-state honors while setting the Nevada 4A single-season assists record. A former team captain, Lee led the classification in assists as both a freshman and sophomore and plans to major in marketing.
Lucas Webb | Defender | St. Louis, Missouri | St. John Vianney/Lou Fusz
Webb brings versatility to the Loyola back line, with experience playing wingback, winger, center back and midfield. He competes with Lou Fusz at the club level and earned first honors academically at St. John Vianney. Webb intends to study business.
Ori Yedlin | Goalkeeper | Northbrook, Illinois | Chicago FC United
Yedlin joins Loyola following five seasons with Chicago FC United's MLS NEXT program. A 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star nominee, he helped lead his squad to two playoff appearances and was part of a nationally ranked team that climbed as high as No. 3 in the country. Yedlin plans to major in finance.
Mateusz Drazek | Midfielder | Des Plaines, Illinois | Chicago FC United
Drazek is a versatile midfielder who previously earned a call-up to the Polish U16 National Team. A National Honor Society member and Highest Honors graduate, he competed exclusively in the MLS NEXT pathway with Chicago FC United while attending Elk Grove High School. He plans to study finance.
Shane Howard | Forward | Los Angeles, California | Los Angeles FC Academy
Howard joins the Ramblers after developing in the Los Angeles FC Academy system. A dynamic athlete, he brings pace and attacking ability to Loyola's frontline. Howard earned the Renaissance Award during his high school career, and his father, Dan Howard, competed in NCAA Division I track and field at UC Santa Barbara.
Loyola's 2026 class combines proven collegiate experience, national-level youth development and international talent as the Ramblers continue building toward the future under Robson's leadership.
