Sept. 27, 2013
Final Stats
CHICAGO - Second half goals by junior Valerie Gonyo and senior Maggie Olsen proved to be the deciding factors as the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team was victorious in its Missouri Valley Conference opener over Indiana State, 2-1, at Loyola Soccer Park this evening. Tonight's win is also the first Missouri Valley victory for Loyola in the program's history.
"The girls settled down nicely after a frantic first half," commented Loyola head women's soccer coach Barry Bimbi. "I thought we turned in a really dominant performance in the second half. We kept the ball on the ground, switched the point of attack and we were rewarded with two corner kick goals."
The Sycamores registered the game's first attempt on goal in the sixth minute when Emily Chura attempted a shot that junior goalkeeper Monica Gonyo was forced to deflect out of play. Loyola went on to clear the ensuing corner, keeping the game scoreless in the opening minutes. Shortly after, sophomore Jessica Bean tested Indiana State goalkeeper and Glenview, Ill. native Brittany San Roman but the Sycamore netminder easily made the save.
San Roman was forced to make a more difficult save in the 21st minute when senior Alex Brown broke free into the box only to see the Sycamore keeper smother her shot at the near post. Sydney Loesing opened the scoring when she put a shot into the upper corner of Gonyo's net at the far post in the 38th minute, sending Indiana State to the halftime break with a 1-0 lead.
Loyola came out of the locker room refocused and in search of a game-tying goal. That moment arrived in the 52nd minute. Gonyo headed home a corner kick from freshman Shelby Koch to level the score at 1-1. Tonight's goal is the first of the season for the New Berlin, Wis. native and third of her career.
Ten minutes later, it would again be a corner kick that the Ramblers took advantage of. Koch, again taking the corner, sent a ball into the box that bounced free before falling to the feet of Olsen. The Crystal Lake, Ill. product did not let the chance go to waste, sneaking her first goal of the season by San Roman at the far post and sending the largest home crowd of the season into a frenzy.
Indiana State would have to wait until the closing seconds of the second half for its best scoring opportunity to present itself. A service from the right side fell perfectly to Abby Reed, who fired just inches high of Gonyo's crossbar. Seconds later, the final whistle sounded to close the door on a historic victory for the program.
Loyola won't have much time to celebrate its first conference win. The Ramblers will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Green Bay, Wis. for a meeting with the Green Bay Phoenix, a former conference rival. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Aldo Santaga Stadium.
