CHICAGO (August 21, 2019) – With its preseason schedule winding down, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team has turned its attention towards the start of the 2019 season. Loyola will lift the lid on the new campaign this week as it takes on a pair of power five conference opponents on the road. The Ramblers will visit Champaign, Ill. on Thursday evening for a 7 p.m. matchup with Illinois before heading west to Lawrence, Kan. to matchup against Kansas in a 1 p.m. Sunday matinee.
2019 Preview: Preparing to enter his ninth season in charge in Rogers Park, head coach
Barry Bimbi welcomes back a strong nucleus of 18 letterwinners from last season's team that finished 11-7-1 (6-1-0 MVC). The Ramblers swept the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles before falling to eventual National Champion Florida State, 1-0, in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Leading the way for the group of returnees are seniors
Madison Laudeman and
Sienna Cruz, and sophomore
Abby Swanson. All three were recognized as Preseason All-MVC selection, while Loyola was voted the preseason league favorite for a second consecutive year. Bimbi's side has also added nine newcomers, including South Carolina graduate transfer
Simone Wark.
vs. Illinois: Illinois, which was tabbed eighth in the Big Ten Conference Preseason Poll, closed the 2018 season at 11-8-1 (6-5-0 B1G). The Fighting Illini bowed out of the Big Ten Tournament to Penn State, 1-0, in a semifinal-round tilt. Veteran head coach Janet Rayfield's team welcomes back nearly 60 percent of its scoring from a year ago, led by the trio of Hope Breslin (five goals, three assists), Makena Silber (five goals), and Kelly Maday (four goals, three assists). Jaelyn Cunningham returns between the pipes for the Fighting Illini after finishing 2018 with a 1.02 goals against average and six shutouts.
vs. Kansas: Like Loyola, Kansas (12-6-3, 5-4-0 Big 12 in 2018) qualified for last season's NCAA Tournament, where it won a double-overtime thriller over Saint Louis, 2-1, before dropping a 4-1 decision to North Carolina in the Second Round. The Jayhawks, who are receiving votes in the initial United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, were picked sixth in the Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll. Head coach Mark Francis, now in his 21st year leading Kansas, returns 18 letterwinners from last season, a group highlighted by nine starters. Katie McClure hopes to again lead the attack in the final third after firing home 11 goals and dishing out three assists last season en route to earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors. Big 12 All-Freshman Team selection Sarah Peters returns in goal for Francis' team following a debut campaign that saw her finish the year with nine shutouts.
Series Stuff: Thursday's meeting will mark the first time that Loyola and Illinois have clashed in women's soccer since the 2010 campaign, a 2-0 Fighting Illini victory. Illinois holds a perfect 3-0-0 record in the previous three encounters. Loyola and Kansas will meet for only the second time on Sunday afternoon in The Sunflower State. The Ramblers won the only previous meeting, 2-1, back in 2008.
Up Next: Loyola makes its first appearance of the year within the friendly confines of Loyola Soccer Park on Friday, August 30 when it plays host to South Dakota at 7:30 p.m. The Ramblers close out the weekend two days later (September 1) by traveling to Muncie, Ind. for a 12 p.m. (CT) tilt with Ball State.
