Men’s Soccer Remains Undefeated with Third Consecutive Draw Against Wright State

Loyola Men’s soccer struggled to a 2-2 finish against Wright State Sept. 4, marking Loyola’s third straight draw of the season. The match featured an intense standoff where both teams faced ejections and warnings.

The beginning of the match set the tone for the intense game when the Raiders’ second-year midfielder Ishmael Mensah was given a red card. He was ejected for serious foul play in the first minute of the game after a physical altercation towards first-year forward Antonio Pinto.

Loyola then found their first offensive opportunity in the fourth minute when first-year defender and midfielder Joaquin Rodriguez played the ball up the field to third-year defender Grant Bailey, who shot over the net.

Minutes later, Rodriguez set up another assist and passed to third-year forward Petar Janjic, but the ball was kicked off target.

After second-year defender Daniel Firs slide tackled the ball out from under the Raiders’ second-year midfielder Brian Burkett, fourth-year midfielder Ben Bischof took possession of the ball and shot for Loyola, but Wright State’s fourth-year goalkeeper Alessandro Malterer was quick to block its entrance in the 12th minute.

With pressure on the net in the 19th minute, Rodriguez regained possession of the ball from the Raiders’ fourth-year defender Zakaria Amro and kicked for the bottom center of the net, but Malterer made the save.

Following consecutive passes between Wright State, first-year forward Sammy Jadid took a shot on goal, but high-kicked it. The ball bounced off an electrical post.

Loyola was quick to capitalize on their repossession as second-year forward Arved von Vegesack set up an assist for fourth-year forward Angel Mendez, who scored in the top right of the net. The Ramblers took the lead in the 36th minute of the match. 

In the final minutes of the first half, Loyola received two corner kicks, but Wright State defenders swiftly knocked the ball off course both times.  

In the first nine minutes of the second half, Loyola took an offensive advantage when second-year midfielder and forward Benji Chavarria, second-year defender Nicholas Roe and fourth-year forward Hugo Urdiales all took shots at the net. Malterer made the save on two of the shots while Urdiales’ shot went over the net.

After third-year midfielder Edwin Espinal-Elvir shot off target on a free kick for Wright State, he tried again for the net, but it soared over the right side in the 54th minute.

Wright State found its next offensive shot in the 64th minute when second-year forward and midfielder Brayden Tester made a shot, but it was off target as the ball went out on the left side of the net.

After unsuccessful corner kicks from both Loyola and Wright State, the Raiders were awarded another corner kick in the 70th minute, and Espinal-Elvir scored in the top right to tie the match at one.

Following subsequent shots made by both Chavarria and third-year midfielder Jack McFeely and an ineffective corner kick for Loyola, Chavarria received a yellow card for dissent on a call made by the referee in the 75th minute.

Moments later, Mendez received a red card for violent conduct and was ejected after knocking down a Raider defender in the 78th minute.

Rodriguez took a shot at the net but came up unsuccessful, and second-year midfielder Marko Odorcic kicked unsuccessfully at the bottom center of the net. Loyola’s third-year goalkeeper Aidan Crawford made the save.

With pressure on the net in the same minute, third-year midfielder Henry Hutchinson scored off the top right of the goal with an assist by Burkett to take the lead 2-1.

Seconds later, Wright State second-year goalkeeper Alex Normandeau received a yellow card for dissent.

While Chavarria’s next shot was blocked, Loyola’s second-year defender Daniel Firs gained possession and scored in the top right  to tie the match at two in the 83rd minute.

In the final minutes of the match, Wright State’s fourth-year midfielder Uleto Fuentes received a yellow card for dissent. Crawford made another save for the Ramblers after second-year forward Keiji Nakazawa made a last-minute attempt at the bottom left corner.

After the end of the match, head coach Steve Bode recalled the effect the reviews and continuous pauses had on the game.  

“It was interesting though, two red cards in one game and then a lot of yellow cards — physical play for sure,” Bode said. “I think it took a lot of the momentum out of the game, a lot of the flow out of the game, just with all those choppy falls, cards and reviews.”

While the conclusion of the match led to the Ramblers’ third consecutive draw, Bode reflected optimistically on the standing of the team.

“I told the guys, ‘Listen, we’re playing to win, but at the same time we’re still undefeated,’” Bode said. “There’s something to be said about that. There’s not a lot of college teams after four or five games that are undefeated still.”

The Ramblers will travel to Edwardsville where they will face off against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Sept. 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be live-streamed on ESPN+.