Men’s Soccer Season Kicks Off on the Right Foot

This past weekend junior goalkeeper Milos Kocic posted back-to-back shutouts, while junior forward Jamie Darvill collected 3 goals and the MVP award at the conclusion of the Black and Decker Classic. Loyola prevailed in both their matches playing as host on DGA Field, a pair of 2-0 decisions over Fordham and Hartwick College, to give the team a 2-0 record after the first weekend of play.

Their stellar performance lead to a rise in the national rankings, ascending to 26^th in the just released polls, and individual hardware for both Kocic and Darvill as the MAAC recognized them as Defensive and Offensive Conference Players of the Weeks respectively.

It seems they have picked up right where they left off from last fall; the stingy Greyhound back line has now registered 16 shutouts in their last 17 outings and “The Dogs” have now won their last 12 games played in front of their home fans. If these results are a harbinger for the rest of the season the Greyhounds could make climbing up in the national polls a regular occurrence on the Evergreen Campus.

The men’s next game will be this coming weekend as they will take the team bus a few miles north on Charles Street to take on the Towson Tigers in a Sunday afternoon altercation scheduled for 2:30PM.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Ready or not, here they come! Diane Geppi-Aikens, sporting new field turf, and Loyola University Maryland, sporting a new name, will play hosts to the first action of the new school year this weekend for the Greyhounds.

The men’s soccer team will welcome the Fordham Rams, the Drexel Dragons, and the Hawks of Hartwick College for the second annual Black and Decker Soccer Classic commencing today with a double-header of action. “The Dogs” will kickoff second with a 5:00PM start time against Fordham after the conclusion of the Drexel-Hartwick match.

Sunday will be a busy day on the DGA pitch with three games scheduled, including the home opener for the Loyola Women’s Soccer Team. FU-Drexel will commence at 10:30AM followed by the Loyola-Hartwick men’s match at 2PM, and play will conclude with the Loyola women taking on Old Dominion at 5PM.

Both Loyola futbol clubs have high expectations for themselves after both claimed MAAC Championships last season. Returning starters are a plenty on both sides, with the men even garnering a preseason rank of 30 in the NCSAA/addidas Preseason National Rankings.

On the men’s side keep an eye on the stingy Loyola defense that last season shut out more opponents than any other Division I in the country. The voters for the Hermann Trophy, soccer’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, certainly have. Junior defender Tennant McVea and junior goalkeeper Milos Kocic were graced the prestigious honor of being named to the preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List.

Stay tuned to the Hound’s Bark for a more detailed preview of both the men’s and women’s seasons to come soon! Until then, if you’re around the Evergreen Campus this weekend – stop by Diane Geppi-Aikens Field for some great action o