The University of Pennsylvania men’s soccer team began its 2025 season with a 4-0 victory over Loyola Maryland at Rhodes Field in Philadelphia on Friday night.
Patrick Cayelli and Romeo Dahlen each contributed four points in the match. David Howard, making his collegiate debut as goalkeeper, recorded two saves to help secure the shutout and give Penn a 1-0 start to the year.
Several players made their first appearances for Penn during the game, including Adam Ambrus-Aikelin, Carter Feinman, George Herbert, Michael Howard, Nik Kathiresan, Adam Kuechler, Kalani Kunimura, Lincoln Matuskiewicz, Theo Ottosson, Tim Shine, and Patrick Weir. Sophomore Dahlen and Malachi Neal also started for the first time in their college careers alongside Howard.
Cayelli matched his career-high with four points (two assists and one goal), while Dahlen scored twice to set a new personal best. The Quakers outshot Loyola Maryland 18-6; ten of those shots were on target against Greyhounds goalkeeper Connor O’Keefe.
The opening minutes saw forward Dahlen take the first shot of the game following a pass from Cayelli that was blocked by Loyola’s defense. Forward Howard had another attempt in the 12th minute but was also denied by defenders.
Penn broke through in the 29th minute when Dahlen converted a pass from Cayelli for the team’s first goal of the season. Loyola’s first shot came eight minutes later but was stopped by Howard.
After halftime, Oliver Pratt forced a save from O’Keefe that led to a corner kick. Cayelli took the corner and found Jack Wagoner, who headed in Penn’s second goal in the 49th minute. Erickson Sakalosky attempted another shot for Penn later in the period but missed high.
Cayelli scored himself in the 68th minute to make it 3-0. Dahlen added his second goal of the night seven minutes later to close out scoring at 4-0.
The Quakers will play their next match away at Seton Hall on Friday, September 5.
