Offensive Outburst Fuels First Men’s Soccer Win of the Season over Wright State

The Loyola men’s soccer team got their first win of the season Sept. 5 as the Ramblers netted four goals on their way to a 4-2 victory over Wright State in their home opener. 

Loyola finished with 14 shots, two more than the Raiders. The two teams were even in saves with two a piece while the Ramblers had twice as many fouls as Wright State with 12. 

Just moments after kickoff rain began to fall at Loyola Soccer Park, slowing down both teams’ attacks over the first 15 minutes of play. Loyola tried to create an offensive spark on the outside with second-year defender Grant Bailey, but the attempts were repelled. 

Loyola head coach Steve Bode said the rain led to a more intense and high-speed than normal opening.

“You know what, it wet the turf,” Bode said. “I think the speed of the play increased with the wet turf, so you had to get your body behind the ball, get your touch, all that kind of stuff.”

Only moments after the rain let up, graduate midfielder Julian Cisneros broke the match open in the 16th minute when he received a pass at the top of the box and struck it cleanly, finding the back of the net to give his team a 1-0 lead. 

The Ramblers retained control and pushed right back onto Wright State’s side following the goal, while the Raiders struggled to beat the Loyola midfield.

In the 29th minute, the Ramblers nearly broke through again when Bailey found third-year forward Hugo Urdiales in front of the goal. His shot almost curved into the net’s left side, but fourth-year Wright State goalkeeper Joel Shaw was able to bat it away for his first save of the match.

The Raiders eventually managed to put pressure on the Loyola backline, scoring in the 36th minute. Fourth-year forward Conner Osterholt took advantage of a defensive lapse by the Ramblers and launched a shot past redshirt second-year goalkeeper Aidan Crawford, knotting the match back up at 1-1. 

After Shaw committed a hard foul on second-year midfielder Jack McFeely and disrupted a Loyola fast break, McFeely was set up for a free kick from just outside the box with a minute left in the half. McFeely’s shot was slightly off target and banged off the crossbar, leaving the two squads tied going into the break. 

In the 51st minute, Wright State nearly jumped ahead when a header from second-year midfielder Edwin Espinal-Elvir flew right over the net. 

The Ramblers made good on an opportunity created by effective defensive play in the 54th minute from second-year defender Noel Hansson. 

Hansson found Urdiales downfield, where his cross was received by first-year midfielder Luka Ivancic who had plenty of time to set himself and launch a rocket in the bottom corner of the net, putting Loyola up 2-1 with his first collegiate goal. 

After the two sides underwent a series of empty possessions, Wright State tied it again at 2-2 in the 61st minute, when a rebound fell to fourth-year forward Cole Werthmuller right in front of an empty net. 

The tie didn’t last long as Ivancic struck for his second goal of the night in the 63rd minute. He snuck it into the net after a free kick by redshirt third-year Quinten Blaire bounced to him during a scrum in the middle of the box. 

Loyola nearly scored again in the next minute on a two-on-one fast break by Uridales and second-year forward Petar Janjic, but Janjic’s hesitation in the box allowed a Raider defender to catch up and disrupt the play.

A 73rd minute header from Ivancic came close to giving Loyola the lead, but sailed over the goal. The Ramblers maintained control and extended their lead a minute later when third-year midfielder Ben Bischof found Urdiales for his first goal in a Loyola uniform. 

Despite an offensive onslaught from Wright State in an attempt to get back in the match, the Ramblers were able to hold onto their lead for the rest of the way, winning 4-2. 

Uridales said it was huge for the team to get their first win after starting the year after a string of losses against top competition. Following the game — his first at Loyola Soccer Park — Uridales said the home fans made a huge impact.

“When we needed it, they were there supporting us,” Uridales said. “It’s amazing and it’s much better playing here. We’ve been looking for this since day one and this is what we needed to keep on, keep going and win more matches.”

Next up the Ramblers take on cross-city rival the University of Illinois-Chicago Thursday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.