Demon Deacons Defeat Men’s Soccer in Final Nonconference Game

Loyola men’s soccer suffered a 3-0 shutout by Wake Forest University Sept. 29 in their final non-conference game. Second-year forward Chimnosoh Okeke led the Ramblers with four shots while fourth-year midfielder and forward Tate Lorentz matched the tally for the Demon Deacons.

Wake Forest broke into play in the fourth minute when Lorentz had two consecutive attempts at the goal. While one fell wide on the right, Lorentz forced third-year goalkeeper Max Ionita to make the save in the top of the net.

Following an uneventful corner kick in the sixth minute, second-year midfielder David Ndong Nguema directed a shot toward the net but missed over the top. Seconds later, Lorentz made his third attempt but shot off target.

In the eighth minute, second-year forward Joby Reid found fourth-year midfielder Jose Perez who netted the first goal of the match. A minute later, Reid scored his own goal with assists from second-year defender Ronnie Garcia and third-year defender Mason Sullivan to widen the lead 2-0.

Following fouls called on first-year midfielder Mateusz Drazek and fourth-year forward Petar Janjic, Loyola found its first offensive opportunity with third-year defender Liam O’Donoghue controlling the ball, but his shot fell past the post on right.

The Demon Deacons found their way up to the net again as fourth-year midfielder Jeffrey White almost had a clear shot at the bottom center before Ionita prevented its entrance.

Following an offside call on Loyola in the 24th minute, four fouls were given to both teams. The first went to fourth-year midfielder Jack McFeely while second-year defender Copeland Berkley, third-year defender Daniel Krueger and first-year midfielder Philip Biskupski took the rest for Wake Forest.

Despite being down by two, the Ramblers remained persistent in trying to catch up as they put the pressure on the net in the following ten minutes. Third-year midfielder and forward Benji Chavarria tried to score in the bottom center, where his attempt met Demon Deacons goalkeeper Owen Barnett. First-year forward Shane Howard was up next, forcing another Wake Forest save in the bottom center. McFeely marked the third try, but the shot fell off target.

With five minutes left in the first half, Kreuger was issued a yellow card warning. Seconds later, O’Donoghue closed out the period with a shot which fell out on the right.

Following the halftime break, Wake Forest was the first to initiate play with a shot attempt by Demon Deacons’ second-year midfielder Alfred Debah two minutes in. Following the unsuccessful try, first-year defender Cohen Havill was issued the first yellow card warning for Loyola.

The Demon Deacons kept pushing to widen their lead as White and redshirt second-year forward Pariss Mitchell directed shots to the net, both failing to generate a point.

After Ndong Nguema was given a foul, Mitchell was issued a yellow card warning in the 54th minute, marking the second for Wake Forest.

Both teams faced possession struggles as Lorentz held control then sent one over the woodwork, Mitchell picking it up to drive one out on the right. Loyola grabbed the ball with McFeely directing it, but it flew left of the crossbar.

Following a shot out on top by Drazek, the Demon Deacons proved their offensive power with four more scoring attempts.

Fourth-year forward Ethan Subachan drove two, but one fell out on the left alongside Perez’s attempt, and his second forced Ionita to the bottom center. A shot from first-year midfielder Henry Rosenfeld allowed Ionita to notch his fourth save of the game.

In the 78th minute, Okeke sent Barnett down to the bottom center to make the save for Wake Forest. Seconds later, the Demon Deacons powered through the Ramblers’ defense as Nolan Tinsley scored the third goal with an assist by Rosenfeld.

In the final 10 minutes of the game, Loyola fought hard to prevent a shutout with seven more offensive attempts.

Okeke fired two shots that flew out on the left while first-year midfielder Nicolas Kehayov directed two off target and one on the right. McFeely’s attempt flew over the crossbar, leaving Okeke at the helm for the final attempt. His shot down the middle swiftly met Barnett, who made the save to shut out the Ramblers in a 3-0 loss.

Despite the sweep in their final non-conference match, Head Coach Kevin Robson reflected positively on the level of play. 

“I’m proud of the guys,” Robson said. “I thought we came in and gave it our best shot against one of the premier programs in the country. We wanted to get better from this game, and I thought we accomplished that.”

The Ramblers will begin Atlantic 10 conference play against Davidson College Oct. 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hoyne Field and can be streamed on ESPN+.