Men’s Soccer Shutout the Saints in 2-0 Win 

Loyola men’s soccer secured a 2-0 win over Holy Cross College Sept. 30 in a shutout match. The Ramblers were led by second-year forward Arved von Vegesack and first-year forward Antonio Pinto in goals as von Vegesack scored his first of the season and Pinto marked off his fifth of his career.

Entering the first half, the Ramblers received subsequent corner kicks in the second minute as fourth-year forward Hugo Urdiales took both, but the Saints’ goalkeeper fourth-year Isaias Rubio blocked the attempts.

The Ramblers found the first offensive opportunity of the match as von Vegesack hit a hard drive for the center of the goal, but the ball barely missed its mark as it smacked off the crossbar.

In the eighth minute, the Ramblers were awarded back-to-back corners with Urdiales once again taking both shots, but the Saints defense was quick to block them.

Following tradeoffs with the ball, Urdiales received another opportunity to shoot a corner for the Ramblers in the 15th minute, but yet again failed to capitalize on the chance.

Holy Cross’ first-year left wing Daniel Alfaro took the first offensive shot for the Saints in the 25th minute, but the ball soared over the net.

Four minutes later, Rubio made a save for the Saints after von Vegesack kicked for the bottom left. In the same minute, the Ramblers were awarded another corner.

Following pressure on the net in the 38th minute, third-year Holy Cross defender Anthony Cruz shot for the top center where the ball met second-year goalkeeper Frankie Pinto.

Third-year midfielder Jack McFeely took possession of the ball with five minutes remaining on the clock and hit a hard drive to the bottom left, but the ball swiftly brushed past the post.

Breaking from halftime, graduate Saints midfielder Kike Morales Bilbao gained possession of the ball two minutes into the second half and shot for the bottom left, but Rubio was quick to make the save for the Saints.

In the 49th minute, the Ramblers made subsequent shots at the goal. The first shot fired by second-year midfielder and forward Benji Chavarria was blocked by Rubio and seconds later, fourth-year defender TJ Cairney shot off target.

With a slide kick, von Vegesack crossed to Bilbao who drove to the top left, but the ball soared over the post.

In a quick fake out on a Saints defender, second-year midfielder Luka Ivancic held possession and crossed to Pinto. As the ball bounced off Pinto’s foot, Urdiales kicked the ball towards von Vegesack who drove the ball to the bottom center, allowing the Ramblers to take the lead 1-0 in the 69th minute.

Seconds later, von Vegesack found his way to the net once again and shot for the top center, but Rubio made the save for the Saints.

Following a corner from McFeely, a Saints defender headed it off course, only for McFeely to pick it up again and kick a long drive to the top left, but the ball was off target.

After a failed scoring attempt from fourth-year Saints forward Angel Mendez, the Ramblers were awarded a corner in the 84th minute. As the ball flew to the left of the field past the post, fourth-year midfielder Ben Bischof headed it back towards the crowd.

Second-year defender Charlie Lacy gained possession after the corner and took his chance for the goal and shot for the bottom center where it met the Saints goalkeeper Rubio.

Following the save, Rubio was taken out of the match after falling onto the pitch. First-year goalkeeper Charlie Hasenour was subbed in with under five minutes left on the clock.

With under a minute left of the match, Pinto found a clearing on the pitch and hit a hard drive to the bottom left, locking in a 2-0 win over the Saints.

As there was a rotating roster throughout the game and players who hadn’t tallied playing time yet were able to experience nonconference play, head coach Steve Bode reflected on the overall performance of the team and how they plan on moving forward.  

“I would say, we’re trying to build off of this performance tonight,” Bode said. “You know, scoring two goals, getting a shutout. Every conference game in the A-10 is extremely difficult and very, very tight so I’ve talked to the players; it ends up being details and moments that make the difference in the games a lot of the time.”

The Ramblers will return to Hoyne Field Oct. 4 where they will face Fordham University to continue the Atlantic 10 Conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.