Men’s Soccer Suffers Tough 2-1 Loss on Senior Day Against VCU

The Loyola men’s soccer team took a hard 2-1 loss at home Saturday afternoon at the hands of Atlantic-10 opponent Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Prior to the match, a ceremony honoring the graduating Ramblers was held for Senior Day. With family and friends by their side, goalkeeper Lucas Daunhauer, defender Lukas Ender, forward Oscar Dueso, midfielder Jason Ybarra, defender Andrew Schweinert, midfielder Marc Torellas and midfielder Markus Maurer were celebrated and given framed pictures as they prepared to play one of their final games at Loyola Soccer Park.

The Ramblers entered play tied for second in the A-10 sitting at 5-1-2 overall and 1-0-1 in conference play. The stands were packed as fans came out to watch them continue their push for a conference title against the Rams, who shared a piece of the second place ranking as they were 1-4-4 overall and 1-0-1 in conference play.

Out of the gates Loyola assumed control of the pace of play. Ybarra got a strong shot off in just the second minute, but it struck a VCU defender and bounced out of danger. Loyola got off two more shots in the first five minutes — one by Maurer, which was once again blocked by a VCU defender, and another by Ybarra which was wide right. 

There were several instances throughout the game when Loyola shots were deflected by Rams defenders. They were so successful VCU’s third-year goalkeeper John Ermini only had to make two saves all game despite the Ramblers getting off 25 shots. Head coach Steve Bode credited this to VCU’s defensive strategy of playing deep and having almost everyone behind the ball. 

“It’s the hardest thing in the world in soccer to break what we call a low block defense,” he said. “So when you put everyone back behind the ball, there is a lot of bodies in there. You can see several times we shot and the goalkeeper didn’t even make a save, they made the save and it hit off a guy. So credit to them for making it difficult for us, and it was tough and frustrating, but we need to find a way at the end of the day.”

VCU held a long possession for the first time in the 8th minute and managed to get off two shots and two corner kicks. First-year goalkeeper Aidan Crawford and the Ramblers defense held the Rams at bay. 

In the 11th minute, Torrellas was set up for a strong shot on a slick pass by Dueso, but once again it was deflected before reaching the goal by a VCU defender. Dueso managed two scoring attempts in the 13th and 16th minutes but missed the goal on both with a kick and header being too strong and sailing well over the net. 

The Rams nearly struck first in the 19th minute on a free kick, which reached second-year defender Hayato Miyano right in front of the goal. Miyano couldn’t extend his leg far enough to guide the ball into the net and it instead missed just to the left. 

In the 27th minute a shot by first-year defender Grant Bailey was stopped by Ermini, but Bailey regained control on the rebound and found first-year defender Noel Hansson whose shot was deflected by a VCU defender. 

Miyano got off a shot on goal in the 33rd minute which was saved by Crawford. Loyola managed five shots down the stretch but couldn’t break the Rams defense before the end of the half, going to the break tied 0-0.

The second half was back-and-forth in the early going. A Torellas shot in the 43rd minute, which was too strong, was followed by two strong VCU shots, one of which was wide and one was saved by Crawford.

In the 50th minute, third-year forward John Gates was fouled in the goalbox after he broke through the defense. A yellow card was assigned to second-year Rams midfielder Moussa Ndiaye on the play which set up a Ramblers penalty shot. 

Loyola selected Dueso to take the shot and he delivered, kicking it left as Ermini dove to the right, giving the Ramblers a 1-0 lead. Dueso, who picked up his fourth goal of the season, drove down the field less than a minute after the penalty and nearly got a second goal. 

VCU responded quickly after regaining possession and tied the game in the 55th minute on a goal by third-year defender Scott McLeod, who was assisted on the play by second-year defender Gerardo Castillo. 

In the 62nd minute, third-year defender Julian Cisneros kicked a looping shot which Ermini hauled in, putting an end to a few minutes of sustained offensive pressure by the Ramblers.

VCU took the lead when Ndiaye came crashing into the box and connected on a corner kick by first-year midfielder Andres Rodriguez, finding the back of the net and giving the Rams a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute.

Torellas had two close shots in the 68th and 71th minutes, but Ermini got his hands on the ball both times. In the 73rd minute Torellas took a free kick that was on target but again was batted away by Ermini. 

In the 82nd minute, Loyola launched a series of crosses ending in a shot by Gates that sailed well over the net. Loyola continued to press in the last 10 minutes but couldn’t connect and tie the game. 

In one last gasp, the Ramblers nearly scored in the 88th minute when a shot almost reached the goal but was stopped right in front of the net when McLeod sat on the ball. The Ramblers couldn’t get close to scoring again before the final whistle sounded. 

After the game, Bode said he was disappointed in the result and pointed to how Loyola had 25 shots but couldn’t convert with a goal. 

“I mean, we expect so much more, we expect a lot more in attack and the final third with execution and shots on frame,” he said. “I think if we have the ability to take the shot and put the ball on frame, we tie or win this game today. But we didn’t have it, we didn’t have that today, and we have to take that and move on and learn from it.”

Next, Loyola will travel to Philadelphia Wednesday, Oct. 4 where they will take on La Salle University. First kick is scheduled for 12 p.m. 

Featured image by Max Bates | The Phoenix