Box Score (PDF)
In Short…
The Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team raced out to an early two-goal lead as it defeated Mercer by a final score of 5-2 in the opening game of the Marquette Invitational this afternoon in Milwaukee, Wis. Today's result from Valley Fields sees the Ramblers move to 3-2-0 on the year, while the Bears fall to 2-3-0.
Coach Bimbi's Thoughts…
"We had another productive day offensively, but we still need to tighten things up defensively all over the field. I'm proud of the effort from the team today and hopefully we'll be able to ride this momentum into Sunday's game."
How It Happened
Loyola came out attacking from the onset as it forced six saves out of Jordyn Ebert, the Mercer goalkeeper, inside the game's opening 30 minutes. The Ramblers seventh attempt on target would break the scoreless deadlock. Senior
Avalon Senn-Raemont sent a cross into the box that found fellow senior
Emily Lange, who headed home from 13 yards out to give the Ramblers a 1-0 lead in the 31
st minute.
Following a Mercer foul in the box, junior
Madison Kimball was presented with a prime chance to double the lead for the Maroon & Gold from the penalty spot. Ebert made an impressive stop to deny the initial attempt but Kimball slotted home the rebound to up the margin to 2-0. Mercer made the most of its only shot on frame of the opening stanza with just over three minutes remaining. Logan Culver found the back of the net after Isabel Rothschadl had her try blocked to cut the Rambler lead in half, 2-1, heading into halftime.
Senior goalkeeper
Maddie Ford came up with her first stop of the afternoon just over 10 minutes into the second half, denying Caroline Smith, to keep Loyola in front. Kimball, senior
Katie Grall and sophomore
Aleksa Tataryn all forced saves out of Ebert shortly thereafter. Grall provided the Ramblers with a crucial insurance goal in the 73
rd minute when she rifled a pass from freshman
Jenna Ross past Ebert to increase the Loyola edge to 3-1.
Ross found herself back in the mix again during the game's final minutes. In the 85
th minute, she connected with fellow freshman
Kat Stephens, who deposited her attempt in from 12 yards out to stretch the lead to 4-1. Following a goal from Mercer's Sarah Adcock that trimmed the Bears' deficit back down to two goals, Ross fed Senn-Raemont, who went on to finish on an open net to put the exclamation point on a 5-2 win.
Looking At The Numbers
- Grall and Stephens each netted their third goals of the season in today's win. They now reside as part of a three-way tie for the team lead in the category alongside junior
Jenna Szczesny.
- Ross' three assists on the day brought her season total in the category to five, a mark that leads the Rambler roster.
- Loyola dominated nearly every statistical category on the afternoon, highlighted by a 29-10 lead in shots that included an 18-5 lead in shots on goal.
- Kimball fired a team-high six attempts, while both Grall and Tataryn registered four tries.
Up Next
Loyola wraps up play at the Marquette Invitational on Sunday afternoon against Central Michigan. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. from Valley Fields in Milwaukee, Wis.
