A Tale of Two Leads
The 43rd meeting of the Red Line Rivalry unfolded under bright lights as DePaul’s men’s soccer squad met Loyola Chicago in a contest that would swing back and forth like a pendulum.
Loyola struck first, capitalizing on a penalty in the eighth minute to take a 1‑0 lead, and shortly thereafter added a long‑range goal to push the advantage to 2‑0 before the break.
DePaul answered quickly, with Quinn Bedwell opening his collegiate scoring account in the 42nd minute after a precise pass from Daniel Hickiewicz, narrowing the gap to 2‑1 and injecting fresh energy into the side.
The momentum shifted again in the 82nd minute when a DePaul clearance fell to a Loyola attacker, who converted to restore the lead at 3‑2, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In the closing stages, Noeh Hernandez and Tyler Flowers each found the net in rapid succession, leveling the score to 3‑3 and sealing a dramatic draw that left both benches exhilarated.
Hickiewicz continued to influence the game, his second assist of the night raising his season total to four, while Hernandez’s goal moved him into the top ten of DePaul’s all‑time points list.
The match also marked personal milestones, as Keagan Pace made his season debut and Mason Kutch started his collegiate career for the first time, adding youthful vigor to the contest.
Statistically, DePaul dominated possession, out‑shot Loyola and earned more corner kicks, underscoring the intensity and tactical battle that defined the evening.