Oct. 13, 2013
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
NORMAL, Ill. - A first half goal from Dagny Olson proved to be enough to secure a win for the Illinois State Redbirds over the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team on Sunday afternoon in Normal, Ill. Following today's defeat, the Ramblers fall to 4-7-4 overall and 1-2-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
"I'm proud of the effort and fight our girls showed against a team that is the class of the Missouri Valley Conference," said Loyola head women's soccer coach Barry Bimbi. "Definitely have to give credit to them. Their defense cleared the ball off the line and their goalkeeper came up big for them as well."
On a picture perfect day at Adelaide Street Field, it would be the Loyola defense that stepped up to open the game. The Rambler backline blocked a pair of shots in the early going and also helped fight off two Redbird corner kicks. Senior Tricia Stonebraker tallied the first Loyola shot on goal, which was saved by Illinois State goalkeeper Aryn Newsom. Junior goalkeeper Monica Gonyo answered her counterpart on the other end of the field by stoning Olson's attempt less than two minutes later.
Olson saw another opportunity fall to her feet just over a minute later and did not let it go to waste, netting her first goal of the season to give the home side a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute of play. After conceding the goal, Gonyo rebounded nicely when she turned away a shot by Rachel Tejada, the two-time defending Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. Sophomore Jessica Bean forced Newsom to make her final save of the half in the 43rd minute as the Redbirds took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
The Ramblers came back from the intermission and immediately looked to find an equalizer. Junior Sammy Gage, Loyola's leading scorer, looked to level the game in the 49th minute but Newsom sustained her brilliant play in goal from the first half, saving Gage's headed attempt. Gonyo continued to play well between the pipes for the Maroon & Gold, making two of her five saves when she denied Olson a second goal before turning away Kyla Cross' shot a minute later.
Loyola's final shot on goal turned out to be its best scoring opportunity of the game. Following a pass, senior Maggie Olsen found herself with an open look at goal from point-blank range. The Crystal Lake, Ill. product slammed her shot on target but Newsom made another fantastic save to preserve the shutout and a critical three points in the standings for the home standing Redbirds.
The Ramblers will look to snap a current four-game winless streak when they step outside of conference play for the final time this season later next week. Loyola will travel to Macomb, Ill. for a clash with in-state rival Western Illinois at 2 p.m. on Friday.
