CHICAGO (October 30, 2019) – The Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team will look to complete the first perfect run through Missouri Valley Conference play since 2014 when it battles Evansville in the regular season finale for both on Thursday afternoon.  Kickoff from Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville, Ind. is slated for 4 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: Loyola battled through torrential rain and heavy winds to grind out a 2-1 over Indiana State last Saturday at Loyola Soccer Park, clinching a share of its second straight MVC regular season title.  Sophomore Abby Swanson and senior Aleksa Tataryn each netted goals, with Tataryn earning MVC Offensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts.  Graduate student Simone Wark, who repeated as The Valley's Newcomer of the Week, provided the assist on Tataryn's game-winning tally.
 
vs. Evansville: Evansville (2-10-3, 1-3-2 MVC) comes into Thursday's regular season finale with its postseason fate still undecided. The Purple Aces currently sit fifth in a tightly-packed bottom half of the Missouri Valley Conference table.  Head coach Krista McKendree's team picked up a vital 1-0 road win over UNI last Saturday in Waterloo, Iowa.  Amanda DaSilva scored her first goal of the season in the 84th minute to secure a crucial three points.  The pairing of Emily Ormson and Emily Wolak, who each have two goals to their name, lead the way for an Evansville attack that has averages just 0.60 goals per game.  Dating back to a 2-0 setback at Austin Peay on September 15, Evansville has been held scoreless in seven of its last nine contests.  Michaela Till anchors the Purple Aces' defense in goal. Coming off an impressive seven-save effort against the Panthers, Till holds a 1.76 goals against average and a 0.760 save percentage in 14 appearances this season.
 
Series Stuff: Loyola owns a 6-1-4 (.590) lead in its all-time series with Evansville. The Ramblers are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with the Purple Aces.  Since arriving in The Valley ahead of the 2013-14 academic year, Loyola has gone 5-0-3 across eight matchups with Evansville.  When the two teams clashed last season in Rogers Park, Loyola jumped out to an early two-goal edge and never looked back, cruising to a 6-1 win en route to clinching its first MVC regular season title in program history.  Madison Kimball paced the attack for the Maroon & Gold in the victory, recording the first hat trick by a Rambler since 2016.
 
Up Next: Loyola will be the top seed in the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference Women's Soccer Championship.  The Ramblers, who will receive an automatic bye to the semifinals, open tournament play at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 8 at Allison South Stadium in Springfield, Mo. against an opponent that is yet to be determined.