DELAWARE, Ohio (Sept. 3, 2022) – Expectations are high for this year's Loras College men's soccer team, and the Duhawks demonstrated why on Saturday night as they captured their first statement win of 2022 with a 1-0 upset victory at No. 21 Ohio Wesleyan University.

The Duhawks (2-0) outlasted the Battling Bishops to capture the program's first win over a ranked opponent since 2018 when they beat No. 23 Luther 2-0 at the Rock Bowl in Dubuque.

Loras only managed seven shots in the game on Saturday, but made their chances count as seven of those shots were on goal. Despite being outshot 21-7 by the Battling Bishops, the Duhawks capitalized on an opportunity in the 58^th minute when a ball was sent into the box from the left sideline.

The Battling Bishops defense was unable to settle the ball down as it trickled toward the top of the box, where sophomore midfielder Diego Rodriguez was there to take advantage, sending a one-timer shot past the OWU keeper.

Rodriguez's goal came on his only shot attempt of the game and was the only shot attempt from any of the five Duhawks who entered the game off the bench.

Ohio Wesleyan was in control for most of the first half as it posted 11 shots while holding Loras to just one. That discrepancy was negated by the stellar goalkeeper play of senior Owen Johnson, who recorded nine saves on Saturday night to pitch a second straight shutout in his first two games as a Duhawk.   

The Duhawks took over control late in the game and didn't allow a OWU shot in the final 20 minutes of the second half and drew four yellow cards in the final frame as the Battling Bishops started to run out of time.

The win for Loras is the second 1-0 win in as many days after the Duhawks took down Capital University 1-0 on Friday night during a game in which their head coach and Capital alum Steven McCarthy was honored as a 2021 Capital University Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee.

Loras' next game will be their home opener on Thursday, Sept. 8, when they host Beloit College at the Rock Bowl at 7 P.M.