CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago men's soccer team opened the home season in front of 1,006 fans Sunday afternoon in the annual Hustle to Hoyne match. The Ramblers knocked off the visiting NIU Huskies, 3-1.
With the win, the Ramblers are 2-0 on the season.
"I'm really proud of the guys today," said head coach
Kevin Robson. "It wasn't our best performance and we were shorthanded. But the guys showed a lot of character this week to go to Green Bay and win and then come home to a packed house and pull it off. The best is yet to come, especially as we get some guys healthy."
How It Happened
Braeden Wright put the Ramblers on the board early in the sixth minute of play. He got his head on a free kick into the box by
Luka Ivancic to put Loyola up 1-0. NIU didn't let Loyola lead for long and netted the equalizer in the 22
nd minute, but the Ramblers weren't far behind with their second goal of the match.
Mateusz Drazek scored the game winner in the 31
st minute with a left footed goal off a
Chimnosoh Okeke assist. NIU put one more shot on goal before the first half ended, but
Maxwell Ionita made his first save of the match. Loyola led 2-1 at the halftime break.
In the second half, the Huskies outshot the Ramblers, 10-4, but it was Loyola who'd find the back of the net one more time. At the 57-minute mark,
Jack McFeely put a quick one away.
Seth Stewart tallied the assist, and Loyola went on to win, 3-1.
Inside the Box Score
- All three goals mark the first of the season for Drazek, McFeely, and Wright.
- Okeke picked up his second assist of the season.
- Ionita made three saves in goal and earned the win.
- NIU outshot Loyola, 14-6, but the Ramblers had more shots on goal, 5-4.
- Loyola is on a 64-match unbeaten streak (55-0-9) when scoring more than two goals dating back to 2017.
- The Ramblers have won nine straight home openers.
Up Next
Loyola and Milwaukee face off on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at Loyola Soccer Park.
