Friday, August 29
Evanston, Ill.
6:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Loyola Chicago
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Set For Matchups With Loyola Chicago, UIC
8/28/2025 4:40:00β―PM | Men's Soccer
βCats close out season-opening homestand against local rivals
EVANSTON, Ill. (August 28, 2025) β After opening the regular season with a pair of wins, Northwestern wraps up a season-opening homestand over the upcoming holiday weekend with visits from a pair of local rivals.
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Loyola Chicago will make the short trip north up Sheridan Road on Friday ahead of a Labor Day tilt with UIC on Monday evening. Β Both matchups are slated to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Β
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern raised the curtain on the 2025 campaign last week, downing Eastern Illinois, 2-0, and Air Force, 2-1, respectively. Peter Riesz notched his first collegiate brace in the opening night win against the Panthers, while Joe Suchecki and Aaron O'Reilly accounted for the Wildcats' tallies in the weekend finale.
Β
Northwestern's defensive unit turned in a pair of impressive performances, limiting Eastern Illinois and Air Force to a combined seven shots, with only two attempts coming on goal.
Β
For their efforts in Northwestern's two wins, Fritz Volmar (Defensive Player of the Week) and O'Reilly (Freshman of the Week) earned recognition from the Big Ten Conference.
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SCOUTING LOYOLA CHICAGO
Loyola Chicago enters the season's second week at 1-0-1 overall. Β The Ramblers won a five-goal thriller on opening night, downing Oakland by a 3-2 final, before settling for a scoreless draw, 0-0, with Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon.
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Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Steve Bode, Loyola was picked seventh in the Atlantic 10 Conference Preseason Poll after finishing 5-9-2 (3-4-1 A-10) in 2024.
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The Ramblers return seven starters and nearly 88 percent of their scoring from a season ago, a group led by Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Conference honoree Hugo Urdiales. Urdiales dazzled in his debut season at Loyola in 2024, rifling home a team-high six goals and four assists.Β North Carolina transfer Gabe Velasco started in goal in both of the team's games last week, making a pair of saves in each contest.
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SCOUTING UIC
Like Northwestern, UIC dispatched Air Force, 3-1, and Eastern Illinois, 4-0, as part of a 2-0 start to its regular season. Β The Flames' will entertain Purdue Northwest on Friday evening before heading north on Monday night.
Β
Now in his 16th season on Chicago's West Side, head coach Sean Phillips' team finished 7-10 last year, with a 3-5 ledger in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.
Β
Edouard Nys led the UIC attack during the season's opening week, netting a pair of goals against Eastern Illinois, in addition to an assist versus Air Force, to secure MVC Offensive Player of the Week honors, along with a spot on Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week.
Β
SERIES STUFF
Separated by just four miles along Sheridan Road, Friday's clash marks the 27th installment of the rivalry between Northwestern and Loyola. Β Across the last five meetings between the two teams, the 'Cats have gone 3-1-1, a run that has seen Northwestern extend its lead in the all-time series to 17-5-4 (.731). Β In the last meeting between the two local foes, Christian Garner piled up six saves in goal as Northwestern and Loyola played to a 0-0 draw on September 2, 2022 at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
Β
For the second time in as many seasons, Northwestern and UIC will battle on Labor Day, a tilt that will mark the 30th matchup in the series. Β Last season, Riesz headed home the night's deciding goal in the 41st minute as the 'Cats grinded out a 1-0 win at Flames Field on September 2, 2024. Β Northwestern is unbeaten (3-0-1) in its last four meetings with its West Side rival.
Β
UP NEXT
Northwestern hits the road for the first time in 2025 on Saturday, September 6, visiting Cincinnati, Ohio for a 5:30 p.m. CT tilt with Xavier at Corcoran Field.
Β
Loyola Chicago will make the short trip north up Sheridan Road on Friday ahead of a Labor Day tilt with UIC on Monday evening. Β Both matchups are slated to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Β
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern raised the curtain on the 2025 campaign last week, downing Eastern Illinois, 2-0, and Air Force, 2-1, respectively. Peter Riesz notched his first collegiate brace in the opening night win against the Panthers, while Joe Suchecki and Aaron O'Reilly accounted for the Wildcats' tallies in the weekend finale.
Β
Northwestern's defensive unit turned in a pair of impressive performances, limiting Eastern Illinois and Air Force to a combined seven shots, with only two attempts coming on goal.
Β
For their efforts in Northwestern's two wins, Fritz Volmar (Defensive Player of the Week) and O'Reilly (Freshman of the Week) earned recognition from the Big Ten Conference.
Β
SCOUTING LOYOLA CHICAGO
Loyola Chicago enters the season's second week at 1-0-1 overall. Β The Ramblers won a five-goal thriller on opening night, downing Oakland by a 3-2 final, before settling for a scoreless draw, 0-0, with Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon.
Β
Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Steve Bode, Loyola was picked seventh in the Atlantic 10 Conference Preseason Poll after finishing 5-9-2 (3-4-1 A-10) in 2024.
Β
The Ramblers return seven starters and nearly 88 percent of their scoring from a season ago, a group led by Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Conference honoree Hugo Urdiales. Urdiales dazzled in his debut season at Loyola in 2024, rifling home a team-high six goals and four assists.Β North Carolina transfer Gabe Velasco started in goal in both of the team's games last week, making a pair of saves in each contest.
Β
SCOUTING UIC
Like Northwestern, UIC dispatched Air Force, 3-1, and Eastern Illinois, 4-0, as part of a 2-0 start to its regular season. Β The Flames' will entertain Purdue Northwest on Friday evening before heading north on Monday night.
Β
Now in his 16th season on Chicago's West Side, head coach Sean Phillips' team finished 7-10 last year, with a 3-5 ledger in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.
Β
Edouard Nys led the UIC attack during the season's opening week, netting a pair of goals against Eastern Illinois, in addition to an assist versus Air Force, to secure MVC Offensive Player of the Week honors, along with a spot on Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week.
Β
SERIES STUFF
Separated by just four miles along Sheridan Road, Friday's clash marks the 27th installment of the rivalry between Northwestern and Loyola. Β Across the last five meetings between the two teams, the 'Cats have gone 3-1-1, a run that has seen Northwestern extend its lead in the all-time series to 17-5-4 (.731). Β In the last meeting between the two local foes, Christian Garner piled up six saves in goal as Northwestern and Loyola played to a 0-0 draw on September 2, 2022 at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
Β
For the second time in as many seasons, Northwestern and UIC will battle on Labor Day, a tilt that will mark the 30th matchup in the series. Β Last season, Riesz headed home the night's deciding goal in the 41st minute as the 'Cats grinded out a 1-0 win at Flames Field on September 2, 2024. Β Northwestern is unbeaten (3-0-1) in its last four meetings with its West Side rival.
Β
UP NEXT
Northwestern hits the road for the first time in 2025 on Saturday, September 6, visiting Cincinnati, Ohio for a 5:30 p.m. CT tilt with Xavier at Corcoran Field.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's SoccerMen's Soccer - βCats Strike Late At Xavier, 1-0 (9/6/2025)
Sunday, September 07
Men's Soccer - Suchecki, O'Reilly Lift 'Cats Over Air Force, 2-1 (8/24/25)
Sunday, August 24
Men's Soccer - Riesz's Brace Pushes 'Cats Past Eastern Illinois in 2025 Opener, 2-0 (8/21/25)
Friday, August 22
Do they know ball? π€ π
Tuesday, August 05
