Box Score: Loyola 2, VCU 1
Location: Richmond, Va. / Sports Backers Stadium
Records:  VCU (4-5-3, 1-3 A-10), Loyola (2-8-2, 1-3-1 A-10)
 
THE SHORT STORY: VCU gained a lead in the first half as midfielder Moussa Ndiaye got a head on his first goal of the season, but a pair of second-half goals from visiting Loyola Chicago overtook VCU, 2-1.
 
PITCH SIDE

• Ndiaye scored the Rams' lone goal on a header from a Papa Toure corner kick
• Toure regained his team lead in points with his first assist of the year and seventh point
• VCU led the match in possession 55-45 and made 16 shots to the Ramblers' 12
• The Rams produced 11 corner kick opportunities, the second-most in 2024
• Four VCU players placed shots on goal and seven Rams combined for 16 shots in the match
• Andrey Salmeron nailed the crossbar twice, missing by just inches on two of his match-leading five shots
• Salmeron's five shots brought his season total to 30
• John Ermini made three saves in goal for the Rams, totaling 30 on the year
• Loyola Chicago evened the all-time series, 1-1-1

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• VCU took the lead in the 27^th minute, as Toure curled a corner attempt towards the far side and Ndiaye's header zipped past Aiden Crawford in the Ramblers' goal
• The tying goal was an unfortunate own goal in the 54^th minute, a redirection from a heavy-footed cross through traffic in front of the net
• Salmeron nearly gave VCU its edge again in the 69^th minute, bending a hard shot off of the corner of the crossbar from inside the penalty box
• In the 83^rd minute, on the game's final shot, Loyola Chicago's Hugo Urdiales launched a free kick from nearly 30 yards out and found net in the upper left corner
• With a 2-1 final, Loyola Chicago took its first Atlantic 10 victory of the year

 
QUOTABLE
"We took another positive step forward tonight in terms of the performance. We created so many chances to score; some [of them] Loyola dealt with very well, some their goalkeeper made really good plays on and some we missed. I was so proud of the guys who filled in at fullback again tonight as they put in a shift and performed really well. Hopefully we get a few more guys back in the back four this week, and I know we will continue to push and learn from tonight. We controlled so many aspects of the game, but we need more goals and to limit the opposition even more or you leave things to chance. When you leave things to chance, moments get magnified, whether it's a good play by the opposing team, a play that we could have done better with or mistakes by the officials. I believe in this group and I know we will right the ship and start to roll." Head Coach Dave Giffard said.
 
UP NEXT:
The Rams will continue their home schedule with its non-conference finale, hosting Florida International on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in Sports Backers Stadium.