BALTIMORE – Loyola University Maryland men's soccer, which was receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division I poll, travels to Boston University for its final road game of the regular season on Saturday.
The Greyhounds (8-7-1, 5-2) clinched a fourth-straight Patriot League tournament appearance with their victory over Holy Cross last Saturday. Loyola ranks eighth nationally in total assists (36), 11th in goals (35) and 19th in goals per game (2.19).
Last Time Out
- Loyola scored its most goals since Oct. 22, 1999 last weekend, netting four goals in each half during a dominant 8-1 win over Holy Cross on Senior Day.
- Brian Saramago (2 G, 2 A), Nico Brown (2 G, 1 A) led the offense, while Daniel Osuji, Josh Fawole, Barry Sharifi and an own goal accounted for the other strikes.
- Loyola's eight goals were tied for the most all-time in a game between Patriot League opponents.
- The Greyhounds finished October with a record of 6-1-1, outscoring opponents by a 24-9 margin during that stretch.
- With the win, Loyola moved past Navy for second place in the Patriot League standings. The Greyhounds have 15 points in league play, two back of first-place Lehigh with two games remaining in the regular season.
Series History
- Loyola and Boston U each have three wins, three losses and three ties in the first nine meetings between the two sides.
- The Greyhounds have won two-straight, including a 3-1 victory at Ridley Athletic Complex last October. Josh Fawole had two goals in that win, while Nico Brown rounded out the scoring for Loyola.
- Boston U's last win in the series was a 2-1 home victory on Oct. 10, 2015.
About the Terriers
- Boston U (4-10-1, 3-4) is tied for fifth with Bucknell in the Patriot League standings after upsetting then-No. 22 Navy by a 1-0 final in double overtime on Saturday.
- The Terriers have won four of their last five games overall after starting the year 0-9-1. Boston U was 0-7 in one-goal games during that initial 10-game stretch.
- Matt McDonnell leads the team and is ranked tied for second in the Patriot League with seven goals on the year.
Weekly Honors for Fawole, Mason, Rodriguez
- Loyola took home 3 of 5 Patriot League weekly awards, with Josh Fawole (Offensive Player of the Week), Davey Mason (Defensive Player) and Eddy Rodriguez (Midfielder) all recognized.
- Fawole and Mason each receive their third-career weekly accolade, while Rodriguez is honored for the first time.
- Rodriguez found Fawole for a game-tying goal with 12 seconds left in an eventual 1-1 draw at then-No. 2 Wake Forest last Tuesday. The strike was featured at No. 6 on Sports Center's Top 10 plays. Mason, meanwhile, contributed to a defense which held the Demon Deacons without a shot on goal over the final 77 minutes of the contest.
Saramago Back Atop the Patriot League
- With his six points in Saturday's win over Holy Cross, Brian Saramago now leads the Patriot League and ranks 28th nationally with 22 points (7 G, 8 A). He has six goals and four assists in seven games against conference opponents on the year.
- Saramago's eight assists are tied for 11th in Division I, and he is also ranked 19th nationally in shots per game (3.69, 59 total).
Quick Notes
- Josh Fawole has recorded points in six of Loyola's last seven games (5 G, 1 A).
- Eddy Rodriguez has recorded assists in three-straight games.
- Loyola is 7-1 this season when scoring multiple goals, and 6-1-1 when holding opponents to one goal or fewer.
- Jordan Wiley became the 15th Loyola player to record a point this season with his assist on Saturday.
- The Greyhounds have outshot their opponents in 10 of 16 games, and they have tied or had a greater number of corner kicks in 13 of 16 contests.
- Loyola's four first-half goals against Holy Cross were its most in a half since Nov. 8, 2008 at Rider.
- Eight Loyola players have combined for 13 Patriot League weekly awards so far in 2019, with Barry Sharifi (3x), Davey Mason (2x), Jonathan Sousa (2x), Chase Vosvick (2x), Brian Saramago, Justin Ingram, Fawole and Rodriguez all earning recognition.
- Loyola is 25-6-3 in the regular season against Patriot League opponents over the past three-plus years under head coach Steve Nichols.
