CHICAGO (March 27, 2021) – Coming off an emphatic road win earlier in the week, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team (5-0-1, 5-0-1 MVC) returns home on Sunday to host Southern Illinois at 11 a.m., beginning a two-game homestand to close the regular season. With a victory over the Salukis, the Ramblers can win their third straight Missouri Valley Conference regulars season title and secure the top seed for the upcoming MVC Women's Soccer Championship.
Last Time Out: After falling behind in the first half, Loyola erupted for five goals over a 9:14 span early in the second half, as it rolled to a 5-1 win over Indiana State this past Wednesday at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute, Ind. Senior
Lindsey Hardiman accounted for two of the Maroon & Gold's strikes, including the game-winner, while senior
Katharine Stephens, junior
Abby Swanson, and sophomore
Megan Nemec added single tallies. Nemec was also credited with a pair of assists in the victory.
vs. Southern Illinois: Southern Illinois enters the weekend at 0-3-3 overall and 0-2-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Salukis, who were voted ninth in the MVC Preseason Poll, are in just the second year of their program's history. Head coach Grant Williams' team competed as an independent in 2019, finishing 5-10-2. Southern Illinois, which is coming off a 5-0 loss to UNI last Sunday, has struggled mightily in the offensive third, as it is still in search of its first goal of the 2021 spring season. Prior to its setback last weekend, the Salukis were proving to be tough to crack on the defensive end, having surrendered only one goal across their first four league contests. Maddy Alaluf has started in all but one game in goal for Williams' side this season, holding a 0.58 goals against average that ranks third amongst Valley netminders.
Series Stuff: Loyola and Southern Illinois will meet for the first time in women's soccer on Sunday in Rogers Park.
Up Next: Loyola wraps up the regular season by hosting Evansville on Saturday, April 3 at 5 p.m.
