LOVES PARK, Ill. (March 5, 2021) –
In Short…
Goals from sophomore
Olivia Knab and senior
Freya Glen helped see the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team (1-0-1. 1-0-1 MVC) past Drake (0-2-0, 0-2-0 MVC) by a final count of 2-0 this afternoon at the Mercyhealth Sportscore Two in Loves Park, Ill.
Head Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"We talked a lot with the team this week about the little details and effort plays that it takes to win a game, and I thought they made those types of plays on a more consistent basis this week. We had a better flow offensively today and created a lot of quality chances. Our back line has been solid the first two games in limiting opponents' opportunities and also getting into the attack."
How It Happened
Loyola wasted little time in pressuring Drake netminder Kelsie Stone, with sophomore
Amanda Cassidy recording a shot on goal just 34 seconds in. Junior goalkeeper
Maddie Hausmann answered her counterpart with a stop of her own in the 10
th minute, denying Libby Helverson.
Knab netted the Maroon & Gold's breakthrough just past the quarter-hour mark. The Chandler, Ariz. native sent a corner kick into the box that curled past Stone and into the back of the net, giving the Ramblers a 1-0 edge. Senior
Lindsey Hardiman looked to double the lead not even five minutes later, but Stone was up to the task, keeping the Bulldogs' deficit at one. Hausmann added her second save of the half in the 36
th minute, as Loyola took a 1-0 edge into the intermission.
As was the case to begin the game, the Ramblers quickly pinned Drake back in its own third to begin the second stanza. After seeing junior
Abby Swanson go high of goal, Loyola's persistence was rewarded in the 57
th minute when Glen fired home, giving the Ramblers a well-deserved 2-0 advantage.
Knab and Hardiman both made bids for a third tally in the middle stages of the second half, only for Stone to turn away both tries. Loyola's defensive unit had all the support it needed though, as it held Drake without an attempt for the final 27:06 en route to its first win of the year.
Looking At The Numbers
- Loyola closed the day with an 11-6 edge in shots, putting six attempts on goal.
- Both Knab and Glen scored their first career goals this afternoon.
- Hausmann finished with two saves as Loyola secured its second shutout in as many games.
Up Next
Loyola heads to Waterloo, Iowa on Wednesday, March 10 for a 4 p.m. matchup with UNI.