Sept. 29, 2013
Final Stats
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Junior goalkeeper Monica Gonyo posted her fourth shutout of the season as the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team played to a scoreless draw in double overtime against the Green Bay Phoenix this afternoon. With today's result, Loyola remains unbeaten in road games with a record of 2-0-3.
"I'm very proud of the girls today for following up Friday night's emotional win with a solid effort," said Loyola head women's soccer coach Barry Bimbi. "This is a venue that we have struggled at in years past and Green Bay is a very well organized team so it was nice to see the girls turn in this type of performance this afternoon."
The two former conference rivals were greeted by fantastic weather on Sunday afternoon at Aldo Santaga Stadium. Loyola's first opportunity fell to freshman Ashley Bovee. Bovee, making the first start of her collegiate career, headed fellow freshman Alex Gage's corner kick on target but saw her attempt saved by the Green Bay goalkeeper, Nastacia Behle, in the 20th minute.
Chances would be few and far between for both sides in a defensive oriented first half. The two teams combined for only four shots in the opening 45 minutes of play.
Neither side wasted any time in attacking after the halftime break. The Phoenix forced Gonyo to make a pair of saves in the opening six minutes of the half, while junior Monika Lee fired wide from distance in the 54th minute. In total, the New Berlin, Wis. native made five saves in the second half to keep a potent Green Bay offense off the scoreboard.
Loyola's sister duo of Alex and Sammy Gage provided Loyola with a pair of chances to take the lead in the final quarter of an hour of regulation. Alex hammered a shot just over the crossbar in the 74th minute from outside the 18-yard box before Sammy, a junior, had the Ramblers only shot on goal in the second half when she tested Behle only to see the Green Bay netminder make the save, sending the game to overtime scoreless.
Lee and freshman Hailey Merrill each had attempts go wide of the Green Bay net in the opening session of overtime. The Phoenix registered three shots in the second overtime but the Rambler backline stood tall in support of its goalkeeper to lockdown the team's fourth clean sheet of the season.
The Ramblers will return to Missouri Valley Conference play and the friendly confines of Loyola Soccer Park on Saturday evening when they host the Missouri State Bears. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Rogers Park.
