Loyola Game Notes | The Valley on ESPN vs. Missouri State | Live Stats vs. Missouri State

CHICAGO (October 19, 2018) – Coming off a comprehensive road victory earlier in the week, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team has turned its attention towards a matchup with Missouri State on Sunday afternoon.  Kickoff from the Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: Loyola used a stifling defensive effort en route to a 2-0 blanking of Valparaiso this past Wednesday at Brown Field in Valparaiso, Ind.  Senior Jenna Szczesny opened the scoring in the 13^th minute, netting her team-best ninth goal of the season, before junior Madison Laudeman added some insurance with only 15 minutes left in regulation, finishing off of a scramble following a corner kick.  The Rambler defensive unit notched its third shutout over its past four games, holding the Crusaders to only three shots.
 
vs. Missouri State: Missouri State, The Valley's defending tournament champion, brings a record of 8-6-2 into Sunday's matchup with Loyola.  The Bears have hit their stride over the past two-plus weeks, going on a four-match unbeaten run that has upped moved them up to fourth in the MVC table at 2-1-2.  Under the direction of head coach Rob Brewer, now in his 23rd season at the head of the bench in Springfield, Mo., Missouri State is led by Jordan Eickelman and Kennady Orlick, who share the team lead in goals with four tallies apiece.  Jacqueline Baetz has dished out a team-best four assists.  Kaitlin Maxwell has played in every minute of every game for Brewer's side this season.  She has an MVC-high six shutouts to her name and holds a 1.03 goals against average that ranks third among Valley netminders.
 
Series Stuff: Sunday's matchup in the Ozarks will be the eighth between Loyola and Missouri State in women's soccer.  The Maroon & Gold owns a slim 4-3-0 edge in the previous seven meetings, all but one of which have come since Loyola's move to the MVC.  Loyola and Missouri State split a pair of meetings last season, with each team prevailing on its home field.  Led by pair of goals from Szczesny, the Ramblers rolled to an impressive 5-0 blanking of the Bears on October 1, 2017 at Loyola Soccer Park.  Missouri State would gain a measure of revenge just over a month later, as it knocked Loyola out of the 2017 MVC Women's Soccer Championship by virtue of a 1-0 victory before its home crowd on November 3, 2017, with Eickelman registering the deciding goal.
 
Up Next: The Ramblers return to the friendly confines of Loyola Soccer Park on Thursday (October 25) at 4 p.m. to host Evansville in the regular-season finale for both teams.