CHICAGO (October 9, 2021)
In Short…
The Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team owned statistical advantages across the board, but was unable to find the back of the net as it was held to a 0-0 draw in double overtime by visiting Missouri State (4-5-4, 1-2-1 MVC) this afternoon on Senior Day at Loyola Soccer Park. Today's result from Rogers Park sees the Ramblers move to 8-2-2 overall and 4-0-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Head Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"It was great day with it being Senior Day. We got to recognize the women who have given their heart and soul to the program. As far as the performance, we couldn't have asked for much more. We created a ton of chances, hit the post multiple times, and built pressure on them. Credit to a very resilient Missouri State team and their coaching staff. They did a great job protecting their goal and got out of here with a point."
How It Happened
As would be the theme for most of the afternoon, Loyola were the aggressors early. Junior
Amanda Cassidy headed a corner kick from senior
Bailey Faulkner off the crossbar in the 12
th minute before Missouri State goalkeeper Katharine Montgomery turned away junior
Olivia Knab and graduate student
Katharine Stephens' respective efforts.
Cassidy came dangerously close to putting the Ramblers on the board in the 30
th minute, taking aim at the far post, only to see her shot cleared off the line by a Bears' defender. Senior
Abby Swanson headed off the woodwork just two minutes later, as Loyola and Missouri State headed to halftime in a scoreless deadlock.
The Maroon & Gold continued its assault on the Missouri State goal coming out of the intermission, with junior
Megan Nemec, freshman
Jaimee Cibulka, and Faulkner all seeing their shots denied by Montgomery in the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza.
Cibulka made a bid for the opener in the 60
th minute, but sent her try off a Knab corner off the crossbar. Loyola continued to press as the half wore on, but was unable to push one past Montgomery, as the two Valley rivals headed to overtime.
The Ramblers forced Montgomery into a trio of saves during the two extra sessions, none more impressive than when she dove at her near post to turn away freshman
Taylor Harrison in the 106
th minute, preserving the scoreless stalemate.
Looking At The Numbers
- Loyola closed the afternoon with a 37-2 advantage in shots and a 21-0 edge in corner kicks.
- The Ramblers finished with 12 shots on goal, while not allowing the Bears an attempt on target.
- Stephens led Loyola with a career-high eight shots, two of which came on goal.
- Montgomery spearheaded Missouri State's defensive efforts with 11 saves.
Up Next
Loyola heads south to Normal, Ill. on Wednesday, October 13 for a 6 p.m. tilt with Illinois State at Adelaide Street Field.
