In Short…
Emilie Hill's goal in the 27^th minute was the difference as Evansville (2-2-2, 2-2-2 MVC) played spoiler on the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team's Senior Night, dealing the Ramblers a 1-0 setback this evening at Loyola Soccer Park.  Tonight's result sees the Maroon & Gold finish the 2021 spring regular season at 6-1-1 overall (6-1-1 MVC).
 
Head Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"All the credit goes to Evansville.  I thought they came out with a really good game plan and had us on our heels a bit.  It's always tough on Senior Night.  There's a lot of emotion that goes into everything.  We came out a little slow, but all the credit goes to them.  They scored off a set piece and defended well for all 90 minutes."
 
How It Happened
Senior Freya Glen nearly had the Ramblers in front just over two minutes in when she chased down a long pass, only for an onrushing Michaela Till, the Evansville goalkeeper, to come out an deny her attempt.  Evansville earned a pair of corner kicks in the 27^th minute and cashed in on the latter.  Nicole Benati sent an in-swinging ball towards the edge of the six-yard box that connected with a leaping Hill, who headed through traffic to give the Purple Aces a 1-0 lead. 
 
Loyola looked to have found an avenue back into the game just six minutes before halftime when sophomore Megan Nemec was taken down in the box, earning a penalty kick for the Maroon & Gold.  Till was up to the task though, going to the ground to deny senior Jenna Ross' attempt from the spot, as the visitors took a one-goal edge into halftime.
 
Till continued to face constant pressure from the Rambler attack in the second half, with both senior Lindsey Hardiman and sophomore Olivia Knab forcing saves out of the Purple Aces' netminder in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.  Senior Katharine Stephens came inches away from putting the Ramblers back on level terms in the 77^th minute, rolling her attempt just wide of the far post.
 
Loyola continue to push forward with time winding down and was nearly rewarded in the waning seconds.  Following a diving stop by Till, Ross lofted a corner kick into the box that found Nemec, who saw her headed effort ring off the crossbar before being cleared out of play, as Evansville escaped with a 1-0 win.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Tonight's defeat snapped a 17-game unbeaten run for Loyola in Missouri Valley Conference play and marked the first loss for the Ramblers against a Valley opponent in 21 games.
- Loyola was dominant in almost every statistical category, finishing the night with a 20-5 edge in shots that included an 11-2 advantage in shots on goal.'
- Nemec paced the Ramblers with four attempts, three of which came on target.
- Making only the second start of her career, senior goalkeeper Radhika Patel finished the night with one save in 90 minutes of action.
 
Up Next
Loyola will be idle until Wednesday, April 14 when it hosts a yet to be determined opponent in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship.