CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago kicks off the 2026 campaign tomorrow (Aug. 12) at Loyola Soccer Park as the team hosts Central Michigan. Game time is set for 7 p.m. with the action streaming live on ESPN+.

QUICK KICKS

• The Ramblers are set for a promising 2026 season under second-year Head Coach Jon Sandoval as the team hosts Central Michigan for its first test of the regular season.
• Loyola Chicago prepared for its matchup versus CMU with two exhibition matches. Loyola hosted Milwaukee on Aug. 5 before traveling to Michigan on Aug. 8.
• Loyola standout Zoe Hevey earned a pair of preseason honors this past Monday.
• Hevey was named to the 2026 IWSOC/United Soccer Coaches Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Positional Players to Watch list for forwards.
• She was also selected to the 2026 Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Hevey led LUC last season in points (16), goals (5), assists (6), shots (67), and shots on-goal (27).
• The preseason recognition comes as Loyola enters the 2026 campaign with high expectations, as the Ramblers were picked fifth in the 14-team Atlantic 10 preseason poll with 133 points.
• Also back in 2026 is goalkeeper Allison Deardorff. She started all 19 games and anchored Loyola's defense behind 89 saves, nine shutouts and .817 save percentage.
• She tied second for the program record of single-season shutouts with nine in 2025.
• Sandoval welcomed 10 newcomers to the 2026 roster this past offseason. He also hired assistant coach Camryn Hart to the coaching staff. Hart arrives after one season at Purdue Fort Wayne.

SCOUTING REPORT

• In 2025, CMU compiled an overall record of 1-14-3 and a conference ledger of 1-8-3.
• James DeCosemo is in his first season as head coach of the Chippewas. 
• He arrived in Mt. Pleasant after serving as assistant coach at Western Michigan, which swept the Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament titles in 2025.

SERIES HISTORY

• The Ramblers have won three of the last four meetings, including a 1-0 road victory in the most recent matchup in 2025.
• In that win, Abby Sudkamp recorded her first career goal after netting the game winner. 
• Deardorff secured her first shutout of the year. 
• Hevey led Loyola with seven shots to match her career high; four were on-target. 
• The victory marked the first ever for Sandoval in his Loyola era. 
• Loyola has recorded two shutouts against Central Michigan.

FOLLOW THE ACTION
Stream the match on ESPN+. Be sure to follow the Ramblers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Find more content on our YouTube channel.