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CHICAGO - A set piece goal from Megan Trapp in the middle stages of the second half secured Eastern Michigan a 1-0 win over the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team this afternoon at Loyola Soccer Park in the final game of the Loyola Invitational. With the win, the Eagles move to 1-3-0, while the Ramblers fall to 2-1-1.

"The effort today was great but I think it was just a little disjointed," Loyola head women's soccer coach Barry Bimbi said after the final whistle. "I thought we played much better during the second half but, unfortunately, we gave up a corner kick goal and when you give up set piece goals, you usually pay for it."

Eastern Michigan's Maddie Hirsch saw the first chance of the afternoon fall to her when she headed just wide of the near post in the fourth minute. Loyola, looking to extend its unbeaten run to begin the season to four games, had a similar opportunity five minutes later when Ashley Bovee headed a Shelby Koch delivery wide. Koch nearly gave the Maroon & Gold the lead in the 20th minute, ringing an attempted cross off the crossbar.

The Rambler defense, which carried a 220:25 minute scoreless steak into action with them on Sunday, made its presence felt in the 25th minute, blocking away Trapp's blast from inside the 18-yard box. Koch and Hailey Merrill each had chances inside the final 20 minutes of the opening stanza, but neither were able to find the back of the net as the game headed to halftime at 0-0.

Both sides came out with renewed energy to begin the second half on a warm day on Chicago's north side. Bovee nearly volleyed home a Szczesny looping ball in the 49th minute but was unable to fully connect on her attempt as Kaylin Williams, the Eastern Michigan netminder, was left with a comfortable save. The visitors came close to cashing in off a corner in the 52nd minute when Ellie Tillar delivered a perfect one-touch pass to Hallie Kansman, only for her attempt to hook wide.

Merrill tested Williams, making the first start of her collegiate career, from the edge of the box in the 59th minute, forcing a save out of the Eagle goalkeeper at the near post. Eastern Michigan found its breakthrough in the 64th minute when, off a Rachel Washburn corner kick, Trapp headed her delivery past Loyola goalkeeper Cassidy Lentz to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Lentz, a freshman out of New Berlin, Wis., responded well, making a sprawling save on a point-blank attempt from Peyton Davis in the 74th minute to keep the Ramblers within striking distance. Jessica Bean looked to tally a late equalizer in the 82nd minute but was denied by Williams as Loyola saw its three-game unbeaten run to begin the season come to an end.

For their efforts on the weekend, Koch, Bean and Szczesny all earned spots on the All-Tournament team. City-rival DePaul led the way with four selections with the Blue Demons' Elise Wyatt being tabbed as the weekend's Most Valuable Player.

Loyola will now turn its attention towards another busy weekend ahead. On Friday, the Ramblers will head north to take on the Wisconsin Badgers at 7 p.m. in Madison, Wis. before returning to the friendly confines of Loyola Soccer Park two days later (Sept. 6) to face off against Army at 1 p.m.