CHICAGO (October 20, 2022)
 
In Short…
With its back to the wall in pursuit of a berth in the Atlantic 10 Conference Women's Soccer Championship, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team turned in one of its top performances of the season as it defeated visiting Massachusetts (5-7-5, 4-3-2 A-10) by a final count of 2-1 this evening in the Maroon & Gold's 2022 home finale at Loyola Soccer Park.  Tonight's results moves the Ramblers back to the .500 mark on the year at 7-7-3 overall and 3-5-1 in Atlantic 10 Conference play.

Head Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"A ton of credit goes to the girls.  They never stopped believing in what we're doing.  We had two great days of practice this week, and it showed.  The goal that Jaimee (Cibulka) scored was straight from the training ground and she believed in it.  To see that first one go in the goal really gave us confidence before getting the penalty kick with Abby (Swanson).  We still have to be a little bit better in late game situations, but a lot of credit goes to Massachusetts.  They never stopped fighting, found the goal, and added a little nerve into the game.  At the end of the day, our girls showed up from the opening whistle, got the result, and that gives us a chance on Sunday."
 
How It Happened
Loyola attacked relentlessly from the opening whistle, with Amanda Cassidy and Jaimee Cibulka both testing Massachusetts goalkeeper Bella Mendoza inside the opening six minutes.
 
Cibulka found herself at the center of things in the 20^th minute, weaving through the top of the box before unleashing a curling right-footed effort that bested Mendoza and found the side netting to give the Ramblers a well-deserved 1-0 lead.  Loyola netmeinder Naya Lipkens ensured the lead stayed intact in the 29^th minute, denying Chandler Pedolzky's attempt from close range at her near post.
 
The Ramblers kept their foot on the gas as the half wore on, and were rewarded in the 33^rd minute when Megan Nemec drew a foul inside the penalty area.  Abby Swanson calmly slotted home the ensuing penalty kick, sending the Maroon & Gold flying into halftime with a 2-0 edge.
 
Nemec wasted no time looking to net a goal of her own in the second half, as she forced a stop out of Mendoza only 22 seconds in.  Lipkens turned in arguably her two most impressive saves of the night in short order, denying Pedolzky and Ashley Lamond only seconds apart to keep the margin at two in the 56^th minute.
 
Ella Skelton and Taylor Harrison both put shots on target in the 80^th minute as Loyola continued to push for a third.  Just one minute later, Grace Pinkus added some late drama, scoring from inside the 18-yard box to pull the Minutewomen within one, but the Ramblers slammed the door shut from that point forward, closing out a crucial win.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Both Cibulka and Swanson tallied their second goal of the season tonight, with Swanson netting her fourth career game-winning strike.
- Cibulka's opening goal snapped a streak of more than 480 minutes without a goal for the Ramblers.
- Loyola was dominant on the offensive end, outshooting Massachusetts by a 24-10 margin that included an 11-5 gap in shots on goal.
- Cassidy and Nemec were each credited with a team-best six attempts.
- Lipkens notched four saves in goal, her 10^th outing this season with at least three stops.
 
Up Next
Loyola closes out the 2022 regular season by heading to Richmond, Va. on Sunday, October 23 for a 1 p.m. (CT) matchup with Richmond at President's Field.