CHICAGO (August 18, 2021) – With its preseason coming to a close, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team will officially raise the curtain on its 2021 season with a pair of matchups this week.
The Maroon & Gold will begin the year on the road, heading to Oxford, Ohio on Thursday afternoon for a 3 p.m. (CT) clash with Miami (Ohio). Following the Ramblers return from The Buckeye State, SIUE will provide the opposition in the 2021 home opener at Loyola Soccer Park on Sunday at 1 p.m.
2021 Preview: Loyola battled its way through the challenges presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic to finish its abbreviated 2021 spring season at 8-2-1 overall. The Ramblers went 6-1-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play, completing their third straight sweep of the league's regular season and tournament titles en route to returning to the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach
Barry Bimbi's team was recently voted as the preseason favorite in The Valley, with seniors
Aly Kilburg and
Abby Swanson, junior
Megan Nemec, and sophomore
Alaina Abel all receiving Preseason All-MVC accolades. The quartet highlights an experienced core of 20 returning letterwinners from last season, a group that includes nine starters.
vs. Miami (Ohio): Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Courtney Sirmans, Miami was picked seventh in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Preseason Poll after going 4-4-0 as it played a conference only schedule this past spring. Hoping to lead the attack for the Redhawks will be the pairing of Kristina DeMarco and Desiree Grubbs, who each finished last season with three goals and two assists to pace the Miami offense. Veteran goalkeeper Izzie Vaccari returns in net after posting a 2.13 goals against average last season as she played in every minute of every game.
vs. SIUE: Tabbed to finish atop the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 2021, SIUE, led by head coach Derek Burton, is coming off a terrific 2021 spring season in which it went 8-3-2 overall (6-2-2 OVC). The Cougars, who open their season by hosting Chicago State on Thursday, defeated Southeast Missouri State, 2-1, to win the OVC Tournament Championship and clinch the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2016. Like Loyola, SIUE returns nine starters, including reigning OVC Forward of the Year MacKenzie Litzsinger (7 goals, 4 assists) and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region selection Lily Schnieders (6 goals, 6 assists). Goalkeeper Taylor Spiller started in all 13 games last season, racking up five shutouts to close the year with a 1.05 goals against average.
Series Stuff: Loyola and Miami will meet for only the fourth time in Thursday's regular season opener. The two teams have split the previous three matchups (1-1-1), with Miami picking up a 7-1 victory in the most recent meeting back on August 29, 1999.
Sunday's home opener marks the third matchup between Loyola and SIUE in women's soccer, a series in which the Ramblers hold a 1-0-1 edge. The Ramblers and Cougars last battled on September 13, 2013 when the two in-state foes played to a 1-1 draw in double overtime.
Up Next: Loyola heads south next weekend for a pair of matchups in the state of Florida. The Ramblers will battle Florida Atlantic on Friday, August 27 in Boca Raton, Fla., before heading west to Fort Meyers, Fla. for a tilt with Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday, August 29.
