CHICAGO (October 27, 2022) – The Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team (8-7-3, 4-5-1 A-10) will look to carry its excellent run of form into the postseason on Saturday when it takes on reigning A-10 regular season champion Saint Louis in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference Women's Soccer Championship.  Kickoff between the eighth-seeded Ramblers and top-seeded Billikens is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.
 
In pursuit of the program's fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, Loyola carries an eight-game win streak in conference tournament play into Saturday's matchup in The Gateway City.  The Ramblers' last defeat in a league tournament came in a 1-0 setback to Missouri State on November 3, 2017 in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
 
Last Time Out: Loyola picked up a pair of crucial results last week to book its postseason ticket, defeating Massachusetts, 2-1, last Thursday at Loyola Soccer Park ahead of a 1-0 road win at Richmond on Sunday afternoon on the final day of the regular season.  Jaimee Cibulka found the back of the net in both games, while Abby Swanson levied the deciding strike in the Ramblers' win over the Minutewomen from the penalty spot.  For her efforts, Cibulka was tabbed the Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
 
vs. Saint Louis: Saint Louis enters the postseason as the nation's hottest team, having rattled off 15 straight wins, the longest active streak in Division I, to finish the regular season at 17-1 overall and a spotless 10-0 in Atlantic 10 Conference action.
 
The Billikens, who are in pursuit of a fifth straight A-10 tournament crown, check in at No. 10 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, matching the program's top ranking in program history.
 
10th-year head coach Katie Shields' team has been dominant on both ends of the field, putting up 3.11 goals per game, while boasting a 0.50 goals against average.  Spearheading the attack in the final third is Caroline Kelly, who finished the year as the A-10's overall points leader (28 points), racking up 11 goals and six assists.  Emily Gaebe has provided a spark off the bench, adding eight goals and six assists, while Emily Groark matched Gaebe's goal tally, finishing with eight tallies in addition to four assists.
 
Emily Puricelli has started in all 18 games in goal for the Billikens, posted a 0.51 goals against average that sits second in the A-10.  Puricelli also has 10 shutouts to her name this season.
 
Series Stuff: Loyola and Saint Louis will battle for the fourth time on Saturday afternoon.  The Billikens hold a 3-0 (1.000) record in the previous encounters between the two Jesuit rivals.
 
Loyola gave Saint Louis all it could handle back on September 22 at Hermann Stadium, dropping a tightly-contested 3-2 decision.  Madeleine Barone found the back of the net just six minutes before halftime to give the Ramblers a 1-0 lead before goals from Groark and Gaebe inside the first six minutes of the second half vaulted the hosts on top, 2-1.  Swanson put the Ramblers back on level terms in the 81st minute, but the Billikens provided the final response, as Caroline Kelly fired home in the 84th minute to provide the final 3-2 scoreline.
 
Up Next: The winner of Saturday's tilt between Loyola and Saint Louis will advance on to the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship, which are slated for Wednesday, November 2 at campus sites.