Ramblers Concede Late Goal to VCU

Loyola men’s soccer lost 1-0 to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Oct. 7, giving up a last-second winner despite having an extra man advantage.

The Ramblers opened with a shot from third-year midfielder Luka Ivancic which went wide to the right of the goal.

Rams first-year midfielder Bya Ndimubandi had a go in the seventh minute, but it was saved at the top of the net by third-year goalkeeper Max Ionita.

Fourth-year midfielder Jack McFeely had a long range attempt in the 11th minute that was pushed away by fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney for a corner. Two minutes later, first-year defender Cohen Havill played a ball into the box, forcing a save from Maloney.

Ndimubandi tried a shot from outside the 18-yard box, but it was blocked by a defender in the 17th minute. Two minutes later, Rams fourth-year midfielder Andrey Salmeron tried one of his own, but it was wide.

Second-year forward Chimnosoh Okeke sent one sailing over the bar in the 27th minute, as did third-year forward Arved von Vegesack. 

McFeely’s shot in the 29th minute hit off the arm of a VCU defender in what looked to be a stonewall penalty, but after a lengthy video review, the call of no penalty was given.

Rams fifth-year forward Ty Johnson ripped a shot down the other end but it powered up and over the upper right corner of the frame. In the 34th minute, Ivancic’s corner found the head of third-year defender Liam O’Donoghue, but he sent the ball over the bar.

McFeely had an attempt blocked by a defender in the 36th minute following a corner, and it fell past the line for another corner. Four minutes later, von Vegesack had a shot from a tight angle, but he was only able to find the side netting.

Ndimubandi’s shot from a mile away was the last of the half, and it flew comfortably over the crossbar.

Ndimubandi tried again at the start of the second half, but it met the head of a defender and bounced out for a corner. He then picked up the first booking of the match, receiving a yellow card for a reckless challenge on fifth-year midfielder Seth Stewart in the 49th minute.

Rams first-year defender Jonas Petterson forced Ionita into a save, and fourth-year defender Pedro Salmon’s follow-up attempt was blocked and cleared.

First-year midfielder Mateusz Drazek could only hit the side netting in the 52nd minute after a Rambler breakaway in what looked at first to be a goal. In the buildup, Ndimubandi fouled fourth-year defender Grant Bailey and was shown his second yellow of the day, dropping the Rams down a man for the remainder of the game.

Bailey lofted a ball toward the goal following a Loyola corner, but Maloney was able to push it over the bar. Havill had an attempt from the left side of the goal a short time later, but it rolled just wide of the right post and out of bounds.

Johnson’s challenge on Ionita in the 56th minute saw him added to the book for VCU’s third yellow card in 12 minutes.

Fourth-year forward Petar Janjic tried a shot, but it was blocked just in front of him by a VCU defender. McFeely had a strike in the 60th minute, but got under it and sent it over the net.

Petterson made a solo run in the 62nd minute, but his finish was deflected just feet over the bar.

O’Donoghue’s shot in the 74th minute couldn’t make it past the first defender. Stewart’s shot did, but it was blasted over the net. Okeke had a shot of his own later the same minute, but he wasn’t able to keep it down.

Von Vegesack got on the end of a cross in the 81st minute, but his header flew over the crossbar. McFeely’s try in the 83rd minute was similarly right over the goal. Drazek was able to get his head on the ball in the 87th minute, but he got around it just a little too much and it went wide to the left of the net.

In the 89th minute, Loyola’s bench was awarded a yellow card for protests following a foul.

In the final seconds of the match, Rams third-year defender Nikita Hayes found at the back post first-year midfielder Esteban Vasquez, who tapped in the winner for the Rams against the run of play. The team was given another yellow card in the ensuing celebrations, but it didn’t matter as the game ended 1-0.

Head Coach Kevin Robson commented on the performance after the game.

“It was a disappointing result today, but I thought our guys left it all out on the field,” Robson said. “We created enough chances today, but we’re missing that final bit of quality.”

The Ramblers play next against St. Bonaventure University at Loyola Soccer Park Oct. 17, with kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m. Streaming is available on ESPN+.