In Short…
Paced by two goals from graduate student
Simone Wark, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team rolled past Illinois State (11-5-0, 4-1-0 MVC) this afternoon by a final margin of 4-1 at Adelaide Street Field in Normal, Ill. Today's victory, a program-record eighth straight, sees the Ramblers improve to 10-4-1 overall (5-0-0 MVC) and secure sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference table, while also snapping the Redbirds' nine-game win streak.
Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"We took a big step forward today towards our goal of earning the one seed for the conference tournament. We were a determined team that played at a very high level. Our focus will now turn towards Indiana State and honoring our special group of seniors on Saturday night."
How It Happened
Freshman goalkeeper
Grace Droessler was called into action just two minutes in when she leapt to push Abby Basler's try over the crossbar. After clearing the resulting corner, Loyola struck in the fifth minute, with senior
Savanah Cruz sending a low cross into the box that was directed home by fellow senior
Sienna Cruz, her twin sister, to give the Maroon & Gold an early 1-0 lead.
The Ramblers continued to press forward as the half wore on, frequently pinning the hosts back in their defensive third. Wark came close to sending Loyola into halftime with a two-goal edge with time winding down, going narrowly wide of an open net in the 45
th minute.
Loyola kept up its pressure coming out of the intermission and was rewarded just eight minutes into the second stanza, as freshman
Megan Nemec fed a streaking Wark, who slotted past Illinois State goalkeeper Haley Smith to double the lead, 2-0, in the 53
rd minute.
Following three stops by Droessler, including a denial of Kate Del Fava's point-blank effort, the Ramblers struck again just in the front of the hour mark. Nemec again used her speed to get behind the Redbird backline before sending a ball in front of goal that was rifled into the back of the net by senior
Aleksa Tataryn, stretching the margin to 3-0. Illinois State looked to add some late drama, drawing a goal back in the 74
th minute through Sarah Ochitwa, but Wark took care of any lingering hopes of a Redbird comeback, completing a brace in the 87
th minute as Loyola extended its win streak to eight games in dominant fashion.
Looking At The Numbers
- Today's victory is Loyola's first over Illinois State during the regular season since joining the MVC.
- The Ramblers' four goals scored on the day matched their season high, set back on September 20 in a 4-1 win over Western Michigan. Loyola is now a perfect 9-0-0 when it scores at least two goals this season.
- - Wark now has a pair of two-goal performances to her name this season. She currently sits as part of a tie for second on the team in goals with Nemec, who took over the lead in assists after dishing out two helpers today.
- Cruz's opening goal was the first allowed by Illinois State in just under 520 minutes of play.
- Tataryn's second-half tally was her team-best sixth of the season.
- Droessler totaled a season-high eight saves in goal, picking up her seventh win of the year.
- Ochitwa's goal brought an end to Loyola's own impressive run of holding opponents scoreless, snapping the streak at 557 minutes.
Up Next
Loyola will look to clinch at least a share of the MVC regular season title on Saturday when it returns home to host Indiana State in its 2019 home finale. The Ramblers will honor their senior class prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff against the Sycamores at Loyola Soccer Park.
