Box Score (PDF)
In Short…
The Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team erupted for four-second half goals as it won a program-record seventh-straight game, downing visiting Missouri State by a final count of 5-0 this afternoon at Loyola Soccer Park. With the win, the Ramblers move to 10-3-0 on the year (3-0-0 MVC), while the Bears drop to 5-9-0 (1-2-0 MVC).
Coach Bimbi's Thoughts…
"I was very proud of the girls' performance in the second half. We came out and got an early goal during the first half but we weren't at our best. I give Missouri State credit for taking us out of a lot of things that we wanted to do. We talked about getting our rhythm and flow back at halftime. Our athleticism showed through in the second half as we were able to connect a few passes to open them up a bit."
How It Happened
Loyola faced a bit of early adversity as senior goalkeeper
Maddie Ford was forced to exit after a collision inside the 18-yard box. Freshman netminder
Radhika Patel entered and was immediately called into action as she collected Brooke Prodzinski's headed attempt in the ninth minute. The Ramblers would cash in for their first goal of the afternoon three minutes later when junior
Taylor Lambouris sent a free kick into the box that was deflected on by senior
Emily Lange before falling to junior
Jenna Szczesny. Szczesny calmly finished at her near post to put Loyola in front, 1-0.
Chances for both sides during the first half were at a premium following the early goal. Junior
Madison Kimball and senior
Avalon Senn-Raemont were both denied by Lexi Palacio, the Missouri State goalkeeper, in the half's closing stages. Loyola stood tall in defense of Patel in goal as it took a one-goal advantage into halftime.
Following an early stop by Palacio on sophomore
Sienna Cruz's header, the Maroon & Gold doubled their lead in the 48
th minute. Senior
Katie Grall unleashed a blast from the edge of the box that found its way inside the far post to give the Ramblers a 2-0 lead. Patel notched her second stop of the afternoon just past the hour mark, turning away Mary Disidore's long-range effort.
Szczesny added to the margin in the 71
st minute. The junior took off on a long run down the middle of the field and deposited her shot in from 15 yards out to make it 3-0. Loyola continued to pressure as time ticked away in regulation and were rewarded with a pair of late goals. Freshman
Kat Stephens scored in a one-on-one breakaway in the 88
th minute before senior
Emily Lange capped off the scoring seconds after as she headed home a Lambouris corner kick to provide the final 5-0 scoreline.
Looking At The Numbers
- With the win, Loyola not only extended its winning streak to seven games, but also secured it first 3-0 start to a conference season since 2008.
- Today's five-goal outburst ups the Ramblers' season goal total to 47, breaking the program's previous single-season record of 45 that was set during the 2008 campaign.
- Szczesny's two-goal performance brings her season total in the category to 10, a mark that leads the Missouri Valley Conference and unofficially has her tied for second overall nationally. The Hoffman Estates, Ill. native is the first Rambler to reach double figures in goals since Cynthia Morote-Ariza netted 17 tallies back in 2007.
- Lambouris was credited with a pair of assists in the win. She currently has a team and MVC-best eight helpers to her name.
- Patel notched a pair of saves after entering in the ninth minute en route to collecting her first collegiate victory.
Up Next
Loyola is back in action on Saturday (Oct. 7) when it hosts MVC newcomer Valparaiso. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Rogers Park.
