Loyola-St. Ignatius square off
in key Chicago Catholic League Blue battle
By Dave Owen
Surging Loyola will venture south from Wilmette past the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago on Tuesday to face what is usually a towering challenge for opponents.
The Ramblers (9-3-1, 1-1-0 in the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division) have a 6:30 p.m. matchup with St. Ignatius (7-2-1, 3-1-0), which has followed its 2018 run to third place in the state in Class AA with a strong start to this season.
Both teams are chasing Mt. Carmel, ranked 223rd in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, which has a 3-0-0 league mark.
Click here to view the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division standings
“We have complete respect for Ignatius,” Loyola coach Baer Fisher said. “They are one of the best programs in the Chicagoland area.
“Last year we pulled out a 2-1 win against them that clinched the CCL title for us, and we're expecting another great game this year.”
That Oct. 14, 2018, match at Loyola marked St. Ignatius’ last loss until the state semifinals. The Ramblers’ victory also ended a four-game win streak in the series for St. Ignatius (three by one-goal margins).
The Wolfpack is again on the hunt this fall under first-year coach Matthew Miller. Their solid record includes six wins in the last seven games, including conference victories last week over Marmion and Fenwick.
“Christian Yonan and Daniel Fernandez have stood out up-top,” Miller said, “(as have) Aidan Hurst at CDM and the energy of my fullbacks. But we have to improve on decision making and limiting the ball being turned over.”
No. 24 Loyola has been on its own strong run, with a 7-1-1 record since Sept. 5.
The Ramblers’ lone setback in that stretch was a 2-1 overtime loss at St. Laurence last Tuesday, and Loyola recovered with decisive 4-1 wins over DePaul (Thursday) and Hononegah (Saturday).
“The boys responded from a disappointing second half and OT performance against St. Laurence,” said Fisher, whose team led that game 1-0 at halftime. “We have since made a couple of defensive adjustments that we believe has given us more balance in our team.”
Mario Hrvojevic, Tommy Zipprich, Colin Redmond and Joey Roscoe were Loyola’s goal scorers Saturday.
As for the aforementioned 20-mile trip to St. Ignatius in rush hour traffic, that should be a comparative walk across the street for Loyola.
The Ramblers’ 2019 travelogue has included an East Coast trip Sept. 13 and 14 that produced 2-0 wins at Deerfield, Mass. and Hotchkiss, Conn.
St. Ignatius hosts St. Ignatius, of Ohio, on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats were the preseason no. 1 team in the Top Drawer Soccer's national poll and currently sit at no. 3. The Ohioans will also play Notre Dame (Peoria), ranked no. 1 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, on their Midwest trip.
After the weekend, St. Ignatius finishes the regular season with four games on the road.
But first up is a huge test in Loyola, where Miller sees three keys to success.
“Breaking lines in the final third, limit the turnovers and movement off the ball,” he said.
“It’s my first season so I haven’t experienced Loyola. But I’m expecting a tough battle. The game will be won or lost in midfield.”
in key Chicago Catholic League Blue battle
By Dave Owen
Surging Loyola will venture south from Wilmette past the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago on Tuesday to face what is usually a towering challenge for opponents.
The Ramblers (9-3-1, 1-1-0 in the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division) have a 6:30 p.m. matchup with St. Ignatius (7-2-1, 3-1-0), which has followed its 2018 run to third place in the state in Class AA with a strong start to this season.
Both teams are chasing Mt. Carmel, ranked 223rd in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, which has a 3-0-0 league mark.
Click here to view the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division standings
“We have complete respect for Ignatius,” Loyola coach Baer Fisher said. “They are one of the best programs in the Chicagoland area.
“Last year we pulled out a 2-1 win against them that clinched the CCL title for us, and we're expecting another great game this year.”
That Oct. 14, 2018, match at Loyola marked St. Ignatius’ last loss until the state semifinals. The Ramblers’ victory also ended a four-game win streak in the series for St. Ignatius (three by one-goal margins).
The Wolfpack is again on the hunt this fall under first-year coach Matthew Miller. Their solid record includes six wins in the last seven games, including conference victories last week over Marmion and Fenwick.
“Christian Yonan and Daniel Fernandez have stood out up-top,” Miller said, “(as have) Aidan Hurst at CDM and the energy of my fullbacks. But we have to improve on decision making and limiting the ball being turned over.”
No. 24 Loyola has been on its own strong run, with a 7-1-1 record since Sept. 5.
The Ramblers’ lone setback in that stretch was a 2-1 overtime loss at St. Laurence last Tuesday, and Loyola recovered with decisive 4-1 wins over DePaul (Thursday) and Hononegah (Saturday).
“The boys responded from a disappointing second half and OT performance against St. Laurence,” said Fisher, whose team led that game 1-0 at halftime. “We have since made a couple of defensive adjustments that we believe has given us more balance in our team.”
Mario Hrvojevic, Tommy Zipprich, Colin Redmond and Joey Roscoe were Loyola’s goal scorers Saturday.
As for the aforementioned 20-mile trip to St. Ignatius in rush hour traffic, that should be a comparative walk across the street for Loyola.
The Ramblers’ 2019 travelogue has included an East Coast trip Sept. 13 and 14 that produced 2-0 wins at Deerfield, Mass. and Hotchkiss, Conn.
St. Ignatius hosts St. Ignatius, of Ohio, on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats were the preseason no. 1 team in the Top Drawer Soccer's national poll and currently sit at no. 3. The Ohioans will also play Notre Dame (Peoria), ranked no. 1 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, on their Midwest trip.
After the weekend, St. Ignatius finishes the regular season with four games on the road.
But first up is a huge test in Loyola, where Miller sees three keys to success.
“Breaking lines in the final third, limit the turnovers and movement off the ball,” he said.
“It’s my first season so I haven’t experienced Loyola. But I’m expecting a tough battle. The game will be won or lost in midfield.”