CHICAGO (April 2, 2021) – Less than a week removed from securing its third straight Missouri Valley Conference regular season title, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team (6-0-1, 6-0-1 MVC) will close out the regular season portion of its 2021 spring schedule on Saturday night when it welcomes Evansville to Loyola Soccer Park.  Prior to the 5 p.m. kickoff, the Ramblers will honor their senior class in a special ceremony.
 
Last Time Out: Senior Lindsey Hardiman and sophomore Megan Nemec netted two goals apiece as Loyola raced past Southern Illinois, 5-0, this past Sunday in Rogers Park.  The Ramblers turned in another stout defensive effort in the victory, picking up their fifth clean sheet of the season.  For her efforts last week, which included three goals and four assists, Nemec was tabbed the MVC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
vs. Evansville: Like Loyola, Evansville is playing a conference-only schedule this spring and sits at 1-2-2 overall.  Now in his second stint leading the Purple Aces, head coach Chris Pfau's team enters the penultimate round of the regular season just a point back of Valparaiso in the race for the sixth spot in the conference table, which carries with it the final bid to the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference Championship.  The Purple Aces are winless across their last three games, going 0-1-2 during that stretch.  Most recently, Evansville dropped a 1-0 decision to Drake last Sunday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.  Emily Ormson has the team's lone goal of year to her name, scored in a 1-0 double-overtime win over UNI back on March 5.  Despite its issues in the offensive third, Evansville has been formidable on the defensive end of the field, allowing an MVC-low two goals en route to posting a 0.36 goals against average that ranks 15th nationally.
 
Series Stuff: After dropping its first-ever meeting with the Purple Aces back on October 29, 1993, Loyola has gone unbeaten over its last 11 matchups with Evansville, opening up a 7-1-4 (.750) advantage in the all-time series between the two institutions.  The Ramblers hold a 3-0-1 (.875) edge in four previous encounters with the Purple Aces at Loyola Soccer Park.  In the meeting between the two teams during the 2019 season in Evansville, Ind., second-half goals from Madison Laudeman and Nemec secured a 2-0 win for the Maroon & Gold.
 
Up Next: After battling Evansville, Loyola will be idle until Wednesday, April 14 when it hosts a semifinal-round matchup in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship at Loyola Soccer Park.  Both the opponent and kickoff time are to be determined.