In Short…
The Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team turned in a complete performance on both ends of the field, defeating visiting Missouri State by a final scoreline of 2-0 this afternoon at Loyola Soccer Park. With the win, Loyola's sixth in as many games, the Ramblers continue their perfect start to Missouri Valley Conference play at 3-0-0 (8-4-1 overall), while the Bears slip to 2-1-0 (8-3-1 overall) in league action.
Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"I was very impressed with our team's performance today. I talked to the girls after the game about how our gameplan for every team is different, and this group has stepped up to the challenge every single day. They're taking a very mature approach to each game and I'm very proud of them."
How It Happened
It took the Maroon & Gold just under five minutes to breakthrough against a Missouri State defensive unit that entered the week ranked in the top 50 nationally in goals against average. Junior
Katharine Stephens battled her way inside the Bears' 18-yard box before sending a ball across the face of goal that found senior
Savanah Cruz. Cruz went on to calmly slot her attempt past Missouri State goalkeeper Kaitlin Maxwell, giving the Ramblers an early 1-0 edge.
Loyola continued to apply pressure as the half wore on, with senior
Ari Banks and freshman
Amanda Cassidy each forcing stops out of Maxwell. The Ramblers were rock solid in the defensive third throughout the opening 45 minutes, holding the Bears without a shot, as they took a one-goal edge into the locker room.
Freshman goalkeeper
Grace Droessler was called into action just 70 seconds out halftime, dropping down to collect Jordan Eickelman's try from 15 yards out. Loyola made the most of one of its first opportunities of the second stanza in the 51
st minute, with senior
Madison Laudeman delivering a bounding ball over the top that found Stephens. The junior did the rest, firing past Maxwell in a one-on-one scenario to double Loyola's advantage, 2-0.
Junior
Lindsey Hardiman had looked to up the lead to 3-0 shortly after the hour mark when she beat Maxwell, only to see a Bears' defender clear her attempt off the line. As was the case in the first half, Loyola limited chances for the visitors for the remainder of regulation, ultimately closing out a 2-0 victory.
Looking At The Numbers
- Cruz's opening goal, which proved to be the game-winner, upped her season total in the category to two, while Stephens tallied her first goal of the 2019 season during the second half.
- Stephens also added her team-best fourth assist on Cruz's first-half strike.
- Loyola's defense continued to shine, holding Missouri State to just five total attempts as it collected its fourth-straight shutout and extended its scoreless streak to 394 minutes.
- With this afternoon's victory, Loyola finds itself just a win shy of tying its program record of seven straight victories, achieved during the 2017 campaign.
Up Next
Loyola goes after a sweep of its three-game homestand on Wednesday night when it hosts Valparaiso at 7 p.m.
