CHICAGO (September 10, 2019) – Looking to extend its current two-game unbeaten run, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team will take on a pair of in-state opponents this week.  On Thursday evening, Loyola will welcome city-rival DePaul to Loyola Soccer Park at 7 p.m. for the latest installment of the "Red Line Rivalry".  The Ramblers close out the weekend with a 6 p.m. Sunday evening road tilt against Northern Illinois at the NIU Soccer Complex.
 
Last Time Out: Loyola picked up a pair of impressive results last week, battling No. 16 Wisconsin to a 1-1 draw in double overtime in Rogers Park on Thursday before defeating a previously unbeaten Missouri side, 2-1, in Columbia, Mo. on Sunday afternoon.  Senior Aleksa Tataryn accounted for the Rambler goal against the Badgers, while freshman Megan Nemec registered both of Loyola's tallies in Sunday's win over the Tigers en route to repeating as Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week.  Fellow freshman Grace Droessler started in both contests, posting a 0.867 save percentage over the two games as she earned MVC Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
 
vs. DePaul: DePaul has rebounded from an 0-3 start to the season, winning two of its last three games, a stretch highlighted by a 1-0 blanking of No. 11 Kansas last Friday as part of the Boilermaker Challenge Cup in West Lafayette, Ind.  Under the direction of head coach Erin Chastain, now in her 13th season in charge in Lincoln Park, the Blue Demons were picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll following an 8-6-5 campaign (4-3-2 BIG EAST) in 2018.  Four different members of the DePaul roster have each found the back of the net once this season, led by Jade Eriksen-Russo, who scored against the Jayhawks.  Goalkeeper Mollie Eriksson, who was selected to the BIG EAST Women's Soccer Honor Roll this week, has started in all six games this season for DePaul and owns a 1.33 goals against average.
 
vs. Northern Illinois: Led by head coach and former Rambler Julie Colhoff (2006-09), Northern Illinois currently sits at 1-2-1 ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Maroon & Gold.  The Huskies picked up their first win of the season this past Sunday, blanking Western Illinois, 1-0, at the NIU Soccer Complex.  In Colhoff's first year in charge in DeKalb, Northern Illinois finished 2-17-0 overall and 1-10-0 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play.  Trudy Quidzinski has already found the back of the net a team-high four teams on the year, a mark that is tied for the MAC lead.
 
Series Stuff: Loyola and DePaul will clash for the 19th time on Thursday evening in Rogers Park. The Blue Demons have had the upper hand in the series of late, going 3-1-1 in the last five meetings, including a 1-0 victory at Wish Field last season.  Loyola and Northern Illinois are set to meet for the first time since 2013 on Sunday evening.  In the most recent encounter, a goal in the 65th minute from Sammy Gage proved to be the difference in a 1-0 Rambler win. 
 
Up Next: Loyola closes out non-conference play next week with a pair of games in Michigan.  The Ramblers will take on Western Michigan on Friday (Sept. 20) at 3 p.m. (CT) and Eastern Michigan on Sunday at 12 p.m. (CT).