CHICAGO (August 31, 2021) – Off to its first 3-0 start since the 2006 season, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team will take on a two foes from the Big Ten Conference this week.  The Ramblers will welcome Wisconsin to Loyola Soccer Park for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Thursday night, before heading west to Lincoln, Neb. for a 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon tilt with Nebraska at Hibner Stadium.
 
Last Time Out: Loyola picked up its first win in the state of Florida last Friday, downing host Florida Atlantic by a 2-0 final score at the FAU Soccer Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.  Juniors Megan Demski and Megan Nemec tallied goals for the Maroon & Gold in the win, while senior goalkeeper Maddie Hausmann notched a pair of saves en route to a second straight shutout.  Weather intervened in Sunday's scheduled matchup with Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Fla., as play was forced to be halted in the 65^th minute with the Ramblers holding on to a 2-0 edge following tallies from Nemec and fellow junior Kyrsten Pellikan.  After a two-hour lightning delay and an attempted restart, the game ultimately was ruled a no contest.
 
vs. Wisconsin: Picked fifth in the Big Ten's Preseason Poll, Wisconsin brings a record of 3-1-0 into Thursday's clash with Loyola.  The Badgers are coming off a 5-0 thrashing of Eastern Illinois last Sunday at the McClimon Soccer Complex in Madison, Wis. 
 
Under the direction of head coach Paula Wilkins, who has led Wisconsin to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in her first 14 years at the helm, the Badgers return an impressive nucleus of returning letterwinners from last season's squad that finished 7-4-3 playing only Big Ten opposition. 
 
Leading the way for that group is goalkeeper Jordan Bloomer, the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year.  Bloomer, who was recently named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list, has started in every game this season for Wisconsin and holds a 0.57 goals against average.  In the attacking third, Emma Jaskaniec (3 goals, 2 assists), Lauren Rice (2 goals, 2 assists), and Natalie Viggiano (2 goals) feature prominently.
 
vs. Nebraska: As is the case with the Badgers, Nebraska also enters the week at 3-1-0 on the young season after seeing its perfect start to the year brought to an end in a 1-0 double-overtime loss on the road at Oklahoma this past Sunday.  The Cornhuskers will host Omaha on Thursday evening ahead of welcoming the Ramblers on Sunday.
 
Predicted to finish 12th in the Big Ten this season, head coach John Walker, who has led the Nebraska program since its inception, welcomes back all but one letterwinner from last year's side that went 2-5-3.
 
Heading up the attack through the season's first four games has been the pairing of Reagan Raabe (3 goals, 1 assist) and Eleanor Dale (2 goals, 1 assist).  Between the pipes, goalkeeper Sami Hauk has allowed just one goal (0.28 GAA) across four starting assignments.
 
Series Stuff: Thursday's tilt in Rogers Park will mark the eighth all-time meeting between Loyola and Wisconsin. After dropping the first six meetings between the two schools, the Ramblers grinded out a 1-1 double-overtime draw against the Badgers back on September 5, 2019 at Loyola Soccer Park.
 
Sunday's weekend finale serves as only Loyola's fourth encounter with Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have been victorious in all four encounters, taking the most recent matchup, 2-0, on August 27, 2010.
 
Loyola enters the week with just three victories over Big Ten opposition, holding a 3-39-5 (.117) all-time record against current league members.  The Ramblers' last win over a Big Ten foe came on September 10, 2017 when the Maroon & Gold rolled to a 3-0 win over Iowa.
 
Up Next: Loyola hits the road to face two BIG EAST Conference opponents next week, battling DePaul (September 9) and Xavier (September 12).