Printable 2007 Loyola Men's Soccer Schedule
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May 25, 2007

CHICAGO - Four of the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team's 2007 opponents qualified for last season's NCAA Tournament, according the 2007 schedule which was announced today by head coach Brendan Eitz. The Ramblers made their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance last season after winning the Horizon League Tournament.

Loyola's 2007 opponents had a combined 151-144-32 overall a year ago. The Ramblers will play eight games at Loyola Soccer Park, including three consecutive matches to conclude the regular season.

The Ramblers open the year with their first-ever meeting with Cincinnati, the defending BIG EAST Conference's Red Division champions on August 31 at Loyola Soccer Park. The Bearcats finished last season 11-6-2 and were 7-3-1 against conference foes, before losing to Northwestern in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

After a home match against Jacksonville, the Ramblers travel to Kansas City, Mo., for the UMKC Tournament, where they will face the host Kangaroos (Sept. 7) and Oral Roberts (Sept. 9).

Loyola opens conference play by resuming its series with first-year Horizon League member Valparaiso, a match at TOYOTA PARK, home of the MLS Chicago Fire, on Sept. 16. The Ramblers own a 12-3 edge in the series but lost the most recent meeting 3-1 on Oct. 31, 2003 in Valparaiso, Ind.

LU begins a five-match road trip on Sept. 21 at the University of San Diego Tournament versus UC Irvine. The Ramblers play the host Toreros on Sept. 23.

The Ramblers return to the Midwest but continue on the road at Northwestern (Sept. 26) before concluding the trip with matches at Detroit (Oct. 5) and Cleveland State (Oct. 7).

LU returns home to play five of its final six regular-season matches at Loyola Soccer Park beginning with an Oct. 12 showdown with Wright State and an Oct. 14 meeting with Butler.

The Ramblers begin a three-match homestand to end the regular season against Wisconsin-Green Bay on Oct. 21 before facing city rivals DePaul (Oct. 31) and Illinois-Chicago (Nov. 3).

Loyola finished last season 11-8-2 and placed third in the league's regular-season standings at 5-4-1. The Ramblers' success was keyed by a defense that tied a school record with 10 shutouts, including a 398:11 scoreless streak that spanned six games. NSCAA All-Midwest Region Second Team selection Iradj Farahmand returns to stabilize the defense while fellow all-region selection Keum Sung Kim leads the attack. Kim scored his first goal of the season to lift Loyola to a 1-0 win against UW-Green Bay in the Horizon League Championship.