United Soccer Coaches DI Poll - Oct. 29, 2019
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Loyola University Maryland is included among schools receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division I poll released on Tuesday.
The Greyhounds went 6-1-1 during the month of October, outscoring opponents by a 24-9 margin during that stretch. With a 5-2 record against Patriot League opponents, Loyola has risen to second in the conference standings, just two points back of first-place Lehigh with two league games remaining in the regular season.
Last week included a memorable 1-1 draw at then-No. 2 Wake Forest on Tuesday, with
Eddy Rodriguez finding
Josh Fawole for a tying strike in the closing seconds which was featured on Sports Center's Top 10 plays. The Greyhounds kept the momentum going over the weekend, routing Holy Cross by an 8-1 final and posting the program's most goals in a game since 1999 in the process.
Loyola leads the Patriot League in several offensive categories, including goals (35), assists (36), goals per game (2.19) and shots per game (14.88). Nationally, Loyola is eighth in assists and 10th in goals. Offensive leaders include
Brian Saramago (7 G, 8 A),
Barry Sharifi (6 G, 3 A), Fawole (6 G, 1 A) and
Justin Ingram (3 G, 5 A). Saramago and Sharifi were each chosen as third team United Soccer Coaches All-America selections in 2018.
The Greyhounds, who received five votes in this week's poll, are included in the national rankings for the first time since the preseason poll was announced in August. They made it up to No. 23 nationally in October last season while on their way to a second-consecutive Patriot League regular season championship.
Loyola returns to action on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Boston University for a 1 p.m. matchup. The regular season concludes with a 7 p.m. home tilt against American next Wednesday.
