CHICAGO – The Drake University men's soccer team is set to play its lone game of the week on Saturday, Oct. 8, evening when it visits No. 11/14 Loyola. First kick is set for 7:30 p.m. with the game being broadcast on The Valley On ESPN3.
 
Saturday's Missouri Valley Conference game is the second meeting between Drake (3-7, 0-2 MVC) and Loyola (9-1, 3-0 MVC). The trip to Chicago is a chance for the Bulldogs to avenge a 1-0 defeat to the Ramblers earlier this season on Sept. 17 at the Cownie Soccer Complex. The MVC adopted a new schedule format this year that has teams playing two league foes twice during the regular season instead of the usual one matchup.
 
Drake is trying to snap a five game losing streak Saturday night when it takes the field against Loyola. The Bulldogs have been in every match during the losing streak with the last two defeats coming in overtime at Western Michigan and SIUE, respectively.
 
Drake's defensive backline received a big boost at Western Michigan with the return of senior defender James Grunert (Muskego, Wis.). Grunert returned to the lineup after missing the four previous matches due to injury. Grunert played 108 minutes in the double-overtime game with the Broncos and 94 minutes in the overtime game with the Cougars. He recorded one shot in each game.
 
Loyola has won two matches in a row after losing its first game of the season at then No. 10 Creighton, 3-0, on Sept. 27. The Ramblers defeated Central Arkansas, 3-1, and DePaul, 2-0 on the road after their loss in Omaha, Neb.
 
Following Saturday's match in Chicago, Drake returns to Des Moines to host Bradley on Oct. 11 with first kick scheduled for 7 p.m.