Oct. 23, 2013

Final Stats

DES MOINES, Iowa - Rebecca Rodgers' fifth goal of the season was just enough to lead Drake to a 1-0 victory over the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team this evening in Des Moines, Iowa. Junior Monica Gonyo, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week, made seven saves for the Ramblers.

Both teams were forced to endure less than ideal weather conditions on a cold, rainy night at the Cownie Soccer Complex. Drake looked to be the more threatening side in the opening stages of the first half, tallying multiple shots and forcing Gonyo into a pair of saves in the opening half hour of play. The New Berlin, Wis. native continued to anchor the Loyola defense before junior Moriah Schwarz, fresh off scoring her first goal of the season against Western Illinois last Friday, had her shot saved by Andrea Swanson, the Drake goalkeeper.

The Ramblers flipped the first half script after returning from the halftime break and generated a pair of chances in the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Freshman Shelby Koch forced a save out of Swanson before Jessica Bean watched her attempt go wide of goal. Gonyo continued to do her part at the other end of the field, recording three more saves as the second half wore on.

Rodgers would finally break through the Rambler defense in the 73rd minute. The Bulldogs' leading scorer slotted a shot into the lower corner of Gonyo's net from the center of the 18-yard box to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Her shot turned out to be the final chance of the evening for either side as Drake claimed all three points in the conference standings.

Loyola will hope to rebound when they return to Rogers Park for the 2013 home finale this weekend. The Ramblers will play host to the Northern Iowa Panthers on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Loyola Soccer Park.