CHICAGO (February 27, 2021) – Following what will amount to a 470-day hiatus without head-to-head competition, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team will officially open its 2021 spring season on Sunday when it visits Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams.  The Ramblers and Bears are set to battle at 1 p.m. at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium.
 
Spring 2021 Preview: Now in his 10^th year in charge in Rogers Park, head coach Barry Bimbi welcomes back an impressive core of 19 letterwinners from his 2019 team that finished 14-5-1 overall and a sparking 7-0-0 in Valley play en route to securing the program's second consecutive sweep of the MVC regular season and tournament titles.  The Ramblers were picked atop the MVC Preseason Coaches Poll that was released earlier in the week, with senior Lindsey Hardiman, juniors Aly Kilburg and Abby Swanson, and sophomores Grace Droessler and Megan Nemec all being recognized with Preseason All-Valley accolades.
 
vs. Missouri State: Missouri State enters Sunday's clash at 1-3-1 overall.  The Bears, who played an abbreviated fall 2020 slate, fell to No. 7 Arkansas by a final margin of 7-0 on Tuesday in their first action of 2021.  Veteran head coach Rob Brewer's team landed third in the MVC Preseason Poll after finishing 2019 at 11-5-2 (4-2-1 MVC).  Leading the way for a group of 13 returning leterwinners is reigning MVC Goalkeeper of the Year Kaitlin Maxwell, who closed last year with a 0.97 goals against average and racked up six shutouts.  Jordan Eickelman (4 goals, 3 assists) and Kennady Orlick (5 goals, 1 assist) look to spearhead the attack in the final third after sharing the team lead in overall points (11) in 2019.
 
Series Stuff: Loyola has prevailed in five of its last six meetings with Missouri State, opening up a 6-3-0 (.667) edge in the all-time series.  When the two teams battled at Loyola Soccer Park back on October 12, 2019, Savanah Cruz opened the scoring less than five minutes in before Katharine Stephens added an insurance goal early on in the second half as the Maroon & Gold cruised to a 2-0 victory.  Missouri State was limited to just five shots by the Rambler defensive unit.
 
Up Next: Loyola returns to action on Friday, March 5 when it plays host to Drake in a 2:30 p.m. kickoff at the Mercyhealth Sportscore Two in Loves Park, Ill.