Box Score (PDF)
In Short…
The third-seeded Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to second-seeded Missouri State in the semifinals of the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Soccer Championship in Springfield, Mo. this evening. Tonight's result from Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium sees the Bears move to 9-9-1 overall (4-2-1 MVC), while the Ramblers wrap up the 2017 season at 13-7-0 (4-3-0 MVC).
How It Happened
After seeing off an early Loyola corner kick, Missouri State struck just inside of five minutes. Jordan Eickelman corralled a pass from Rachel Catrell before firing in at the far post to put the hosts in front, 1-0. Loyola quickly looked to net an equalizer, with seniors
Katie Grall and
Emily Lange both forcing stops out of Missouri State goalkeeper Lexi Palacio.
Senior goalkeeper
Maddie Ford came up with her first save of the evening in the 21
st minute, denying Jacqueline Baetz, to keep the deficit at one. Palacio answered with her third stop of the opening stanza shortly after when she collected a free kick from junior
Taylor Lambouris. Sophomore
Aleksa Tataryn and senior
Avalon Senn-Raemont would each fire high of goal, respectively, in the half's closing minutes, sending Loyola into the intermission in a 1-0 hole.
Both goalkeepers were called into action in the opening five minutes of the second half, with Palacio stopping a shot from freshman Lindsey Hardiman before Ford turned away Brittney Robinson's attempt. Freshman Kat Stephens came close to putting the Maroon & Gold back on level terms in the 66
th minute, but sent her headed attempt just wide of goal.
Palacio continued to keep the Ramblers at bay with time winding down in regulation, collecting shots by both Hardiman and fellow freshman Jenna Ross. A last-ditch header from junior
Jenna Szczesny couldn't find the back of the net as Missouri State booked its spot in Sunday's championship game.
Looking At The Numbers
- Loyola closed the night with a 16-8 edge in shots, putting six of its attempts on target.
- Szczesny led the attack with a game-high four shots.
- Tonight's defeat brings an end to the careers of Loyola's senior class of Ford, Senn-Raemont, Grall, Lange and
Carolina Dunbar. Together, the quintet accounted for 32 victories and helped lead the Ramblers to three consecutive berths in the semifinals of the conference tournament.
- Loyola is expected to return 21 letterwinners in 2018, including 66% of its scoring from this season, as it looks to build off of its sixth winning season in program history.
Coach Bimbi's Thoughts…
"These women did a great job this season of making the staff and University proud of them. From day one of preseason, we knew that we had a focused and committed group of players and that translated into an entertaining and record-breaking season. And finally, thank you to our seniors who have left this program in a much better place than when they arrived four years ago."
