St. Ignatius next challenge
to Loyola's title drive
By Michael Wojtychiw
Loyola is in search of its second Chicago Catholic League Blue Division championship in three years as it heads into games against St. Ignatius on Thursday and Mount Carmel on Saturday. With no state playoffs, a conference title would be the culmination of a nearly perfect season for the Ramblers (8-1-0, 3-0-0), who avenged their only loss on the year by taking down rival New Trier in a rematch April 10 and have won their way through a a tough stretch of conference play.
"It'd be foolish to say we're not thinking about it. It's definitely on our mind," Loyola manager Baer Fisher said. "We keep saying 'Focus on our performance,' but without a shadow of a doubt we know what's at stake and with no state playoffs it's a goal to compete for and rightfully earn a CCL title. It'd be a fitting way to cap off the season for this team.
"The result will come if the performance is there."
The team, which is on a four-game win streak, includes 12 seniors who will celebrate Senior Night Thursday when St. Ignatius visits its Jesuit rivals at Loyola's Munz Campus in Glenview. Many of the seniors have been on varsity for three and some all four years. They have been the key pieces that helped the Loyola program become what it has during Fisher's tenure as manager.
Fisher is really proud of the senior class, the foundation they've laid and what they've become.
"These guys have meant a ton to us. It's bittersweet for me, because I have three more days with the guys," he said. "It's crazy knowing how far those guys have come individually, but also how far they've come to take our program. Our program has become much stronger and not only with our results.
"In terms of our community and our culture, that has become much, much stronger over the past four years and the seniors have played a huge part in that."
But before the Ramblers can dream of a conference title, they need to get through St. Ignatius.
The Wolfpack (3-4-0, 1-4-0), who endured a COVID-19 pause, have been back on the pitch for a week now and have been quite busy. The Loyola game marks their fifth match since April 8, including the third in the past four days.
Despite going 1-3-0 in those previous four games, St. Ignatius manager Matt Miller knows that his squad has been playing tough.
"Everyone's been excited to be back," he said. "It's been a disappointing week, but the seniors have really remained positive, especially to our junior players. They've dug deep during the adversity and have really encouraged each other to keep going out and playing."
Luckily for the Wolfpack, they have the upperclassman leadership that's needed in tough times.
"I was in constant communication with my four captains during our pause, and they'd always relay any information I couldn't," Miller said. "They've been a great voice for me to be like an echo to the group, while also doing the same for their teammates with me."
The Ramblers and Wolfpack kick off at 5:30 p.m. in Glenview.
to Loyola's title drive
By Michael Wojtychiw
Loyola is in search of its second Chicago Catholic League Blue Division championship in three years as it heads into games against St. Ignatius on Thursday and Mount Carmel on Saturday. With no state playoffs, a conference title would be the culmination of a nearly perfect season for the Ramblers (8-1-0, 3-0-0), who avenged their only loss on the year by taking down rival New Trier in a rematch April 10 and have won their way through a a tough stretch of conference play.
"It'd be foolish to say we're not thinking about it. It's definitely on our mind," Loyola manager Baer Fisher said. "We keep saying 'Focus on our performance,' but without a shadow of a doubt we know what's at stake and with no state playoffs it's a goal to compete for and rightfully earn a CCL title. It'd be a fitting way to cap off the season for this team.
"The result will come if the performance is there."
The team, which is on a four-game win streak, includes 12 seniors who will celebrate Senior Night Thursday when St. Ignatius visits its Jesuit rivals at Loyola's Munz Campus in Glenview. Many of the seniors have been on varsity for three and some all four years. They have been the key pieces that helped the Loyola program become what it has during Fisher's tenure as manager.
Fisher is really proud of the senior class, the foundation they've laid and what they've become.
"These guys have meant a ton to us. It's bittersweet for me, because I have three more days with the guys," he said. "It's crazy knowing how far those guys have come individually, but also how far they've come to take our program. Our program has become much stronger and not only with our results.
"In terms of our community and our culture, that has become much, much stronger over the past four years and the seniors have played a huge part in that."
But before the Ramblers can dream of a conference title, they need to get through St. Ignatius.
The Wolfpack (3-4-0, 1-4-0), who endured a COVID-19 pause, have been back on the pitch for a week now and have been quite busy. The Loyola game marks their fifth match since April 8, including the third in the past four days.
Despite going 1-3-0 in those previous four games, St. Ignatius manager Matt Miller knows that his squad has been playing tough.
"Everyone's been excited to be back," he said. "It's been a disappointing week, but the seniors have really remained positive, especially to our junior players. They've dug deep during the adversity and have really encouraged each other to keep going out and playing."
Luckily for the Wolfpack, they have the upperclassman leadership that's needed in tough times.
"I was in constant communication with my four captains during our pause, and they'd always relay any information I couldn't," Miller said. "They've been a great voice for me to be like an echo to the group, while also doing the same for their teammates with me."
The Ramblers and Wolfpack kick off at 5:30 p.m. in Glenview.