Sept. 20, 2013
Final Stats
CHICAGO - The combination of junior Sammy Gage's 65th minute goal and a stout defensive effort was just enough to power the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Northern Illinois on Friday evening at Loyola Soccer Park.
"The first half was back and fourth but I thought we did a nice job of maintaining possession," said Loyola head women's soccer coach Barry Bimbi. "The second half was a truly classic performance by the girls. They stepped up, created a ton of chances and we got the shot from Hailey (Merrill) that Sammy showed great instinct on and put into the back of the net."
Sophomore Jessica Bean registered Loyola's first shot on goal in the 11th minute against the Northern Illinois goalkeeper, Amy Carr. Bean's shot would set the trend for the night as the Ramblers outshot the Huskies, 11-3. Freshman Shelby Koch tested Carr ten minutes later but also saw her shot turned aside.
Loyola's best opportunity of the first 45 minutes fell to the feet of sophomore Kara Ruffolo. Ruffolo, fresh off scoring her first collegiate goal as part of last Sunday's victory over Eastern Illinois, unleashed a rising strike from the edge of the 18-yard box that Carr was forced to tip over the crossbar to keep the score knotted at nil-nil.
The combination of Gage and senior Maggie Olsen immediately looked to spark the Rambler offense at the beginning of the second half. Gage delivered a pinpoint cross into the box that skipped over the foot of Olsen. The duo again looked to break the deadlock in the 54th minute, this time with Olsen delivering a cross from the right side that barely sailed over Gage's head.
As the half wore on, Loyola's backline continued to frustrate the Huskie offense with a hope that a breakthrough was imminent. That breakthrough came in the 65th minute when freshman Hailey Merrill's shot rattled off the Northern Illinois crossbar. It would fall to Gage and the St. Charles, Ill. native wasted no time in depositing the ball into the back of the net to give Loyola a 1-0 lead. Tonight's goal is Gage's third of the season after she netted a pair against Eastern Illinois last Sunday.
Following Gage's goal, Loyola's defense continued to turn in a fantastic effort in support of junior goalkeeper Monica Gonyo. The Rambler backline frustrated the Huskie attack all evening. Northern Illinois' best chance of the game arrived in the 76th minute when Cori Frankenburg let fly from 20 yards out only to see Gonyo, fully extended, make the save at her near post to preserve the clean sheet. Tonight marks the third shutout of the season for Gonyo and 16th of her career, which moves her into sole possession of third-place on the all-time shutouts list at Loyola. The New Berlin, Wis. native sits just three shy of Katie Groesch for second.
Loyola can now turn its attention to a meeting with intracity rival DePaul on Sunday afternoon in the latest installment of the Red Line Rivalry. The Ramblers will honor their four graduating seniors prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff at Loyola Soccer Park.
