Loyola men’s soccer fell 3-0 to No. 25 George Mason Sept. 27 after the Patriots struck early. Despite steady offensive pressure, the Ramblers couldn’t capitalize on their chances while George Mason converted key opportunities in each half.

The Patriots set the tone from the opening whistle, testing Loyola’s defense by earning three corners two minutes in. The Ramblers’ defense cleared the first two chances, but on the third, George Mason’s second-year forward Martim Sereno sent a cross to fifth-year Patriots midfielder Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez, who sent the ball wide on a header.

Nine minutes in, the Ramblers were awarded a free kick, where first-year defender Joaquin Rodríguez generated an offensive opportunity cleared by the Patriots’ backline.

In the 12th minute, George Mason broke through. After redshirt third-year goalkeeper Aidan Crawford blocked an initial strike from third-year Patriots midfielder Javier Montava, George Mason’s fifth-year forward Jacobo Sanfeliu sent the ball back into the box. Third-year Patriots midfielder James Eliuda capitalized on the opportunity, garnering his second goal on the year and allowing the Patriots to take a 1-0 lead.

The Ramblers responded quickly with offensive pressure. In the 18th minute, third-year midfielder Jack McFeely fired a shot on target saved by George Mason’s fifth-year goalkeeper Jaume Salvado. In the following minutes, second-year midfielder David Siemionko tested Salvado with a shot from distance that sailed over the crossbar.

Loyola maintained offensive pressure over the next several minutes, controlling possession and moving the ball into the attacking third. The Ramblers worked to create offensive opportunities as fourth-year midfielder Ben Bischof took a shot in the 24th minute which was cleared by the Patriots’ defense.

The Patriots countered with several dangerous offensive opportunities, keeping Loyola’s defense alert. In the 33rd and 36th minutes, George Mason earned additional corners which were cleared by Crawford and second-year defender Daniel Firs.

With five minutes left in the half, fourth-year forward Hugo Urdiales created two opportunities for the Ramblers, which were cleared by the Patriots’ compact backline. The first half ended with George Mason leading 1-0.

Second-year defender Nicholas Roe throws the ball in. (Tiziana Mongu | The Phoenix)

At the start of the second half, the Patriots came out hot, forcing the Ramblers to give up two corners. Sereno stepped up to take both, but through defensive efforts by Crawford and Firs, Loyola was able to relieve the offensive pressure.

In the 54th and 58th minutes, McFeely and Urdiales both took shots which fell just wide left of the net. Shortly after, Urdiales delivered a cross to second-year forward Arved von Vegesack, which was cleared before the Ramblers got a shot on goal.

In the following minutes, there was even possession in the midfield. Both sides began to play physically, and McFeely was issued a yellow card for tackling George Mason’s fifth-year defender Elijah Jackson. Loyola maintained possession and continued to press the Patriots’ back line. In the 67th minute, Urdiales headed a ball just wide off a cross from Vegesack.

In the 73rd minute, the Patriots responded, extending their lead to 2-0 after their leading goal scorer Seremo won the ball in the Ramblers’ defensive third and hit it to the bottom left corner.

Trying to find an opportunity in the final 15 minutes, Loyola continued to apply pressure on the Patriots’ defense. Second-year defender Luka Ivancic and second-year forward Benji Chavarria both tried to find the back of the net, but their attempts were blocked by George Mason’s defense.

In the 90th minute, Loyola turned the ball over in their defensive third, allowing George Mason’s third-year forward Kelly Janssen to tally his third goal on the year and seal the 3-0 shutout.

Following a tough match against the nationally ranked team, head coach Steve Bode talked about the lessons the team could learn from the loss and emphasized the importance of capitalizing on goal-scoring opportunities. 

“At halftime, we talked about how it was just one moment that made the game one-goal bound, and that we were still in it,” Bode said. “We felt we could get momentum, we felt we could get an equalizer. We just have to keep learning, George Mason is a top 25 team for a reason. We just have to execute when we get the chances and create the chances, and execute better when we get in front of the goal.” 

The Ramblers will face Holy Cross College at Hoyne FIeld Sept. 30. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. and will be livestreamed on ESPN+.