The Valley on ESPN3 vs. Drake | Live Stats vs. Drake
CHICAGO (October 25, 2017) – The Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team will close out the regular-season portion of its schedule on Thursday afternoon when it takes on Drake in Des Moines, Iowa. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. from the Cownie Soccer Complex.
Last Time Out: Loyola picked up a 3-2 win over Northern Iowa on Senior Night last Saturday in Rogers Park. Senior
Katie Grall and juniors
Taylor Lambouris and
Jenna Szczesny all tallied goals for the Ramblers, while senior goalkeeper
Maddie Ford notched six saves between the pipes.
vs. Drake: Drake, who has already clinched the Missouri Valley Conference's regular-season title and the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament, brings a record of 12-3-2 into Thursday's matchup. The Bulldogs hold a sparkling 5-0-1 mark in MVC play, with the only blemish coming in a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Missouri State back on Oct. 17. The Bulldogs clinched the regular-season league crown last Sunday by downing host Illinois State, 3-2, at Adelaide Street Field in Normal, Ill. Ali Smith tallied the deciding goal four minutes into the first overtime to give Drake its second Valley title in the last three years. Rebecca Rodgers paces the attack for head coach Lindsey Horner's team in the offensive third. Rodgers has a team-high 12 goals to her name, a mark that has her level with Szczesny for the Valley lead in the category. Haley Morris has seen the vast majority of time in goal this season. Morris holds a 1.16 goals against average and a 0.827 save percentage.
Series Stuff: Thursday's regular-season finale marks the eighth meeting in the all-time series between Loyola and Drake in women's soccer. The Bulldogs, who hold a 3-1-3 edge, picked up a 3-1 victory when the two teams met last season at Loyola Soccer Park. Senn-Raemont tallied the lone goal for the Ramblers in the defeat. Despite 2017 being only Loyola's fifth season as a Valley member, the two teams have developed a budding rivalry. The Ramblers and Bulldogs have met in the postseason in three of the last four seasons.
Postseason Update: Even with its spot in the upcoming MVC Women's Soccer Championship safely booked, Loyola still finds itself with plenty to play for in Thursday's regular-season finale. With a win or a draw against Drake, the Ramblers will earn an automatic bye to the semifinals of the conference tournament.
After This: The opening round of the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Soccer Championship will take place on campus sites on Sunday, Oct. 29. The tournament will then shift to Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium in Springfield, Mo. for the semifinals (Nov. 3) and championship game (Nov. 5).
