The Ramblers will travel to East Lansing on Thursday evening, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. Central Time, hoping to rebound from a 5‑0 defeat at the hands of Iowa last week. The loss left Loyola Chicago with a 0‑1 record as they open their Big Ten slate, while the Spartans arrive fresh off a 1‑0 victory over their own home crowd and sit unbeaten at 1‑0.
Michigan State, currently perched at No. 5 in the conference rankings, have started the season with a perfect record and are riding the momentum of a strong defensive showing that limited Central Michigan to just 19 shots. Coach Jon Sandoval’s squad returns ten starters, including five All‑Big Ten honorees, and will look to extend their unbeaten streak against a Loyola team that is still searching for its identity.
For the Ramblers, the spotlight will fall on senior forward Zoe Hevey, who earned a spot on the 2026 IWSOC/United Soccer Coaches Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch list and was named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All‑Conference Team. Hevey led the team last season with 16 points, five goals and six assists, and her 27 shots on goal illustrate a willingness to take on the opposition’s defense.
Allison Deardorff, the team’s veteran goalkeeper, will also be a key factor after posting a shutout against Central Michigan in the home opener, securing her 19th career win and her 19th clean sheet. Her 19 saves against the Chippewas underscore the experience that could keep Loyola competitive.
Key Storylines
The game will also be a showcase for the new faces on both sides, with Michigan State’s Kennedy Bell and Kayla Briggs already finding the net in their win over Xavier, while Loyola’s freshmen will look to make immediate impacts. The historical context adds another layer of intrigue: Michigan State holds a 7‑0 edge in the all‑time series, with the most recent meeting occurring in 2024. Despite the disparity, Loyola’s recent recruiting haul — ten newcomers, including seven freshmen and three transfers — has injected fresh optimism into the program.
Conference expectations also favor the Spartans, who were projected fifth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll with 133 points, while Loyola received a modest 133‑point tally of their own. The matchup will be a test of whether the Ramblers can translate preseason promise into on‑field results against a top‑ranked opponent.