MADISON, Wis. (August 25, 2022)
In Short…
A last-gasp goal from
Amanda Cassidy secured the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team (1-1-1) a 1-1 draw this evening against No. 24 Wisconsin at the McClimon Soccer Complex in Madison, Wis.
Head Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"I thought it was a good bounce back from Sunday. We really focused on getting ourselves in the mentality of a little more grit, a higher work rate, and a little higher physicality. The focus was there tonight for 80 of the 90 minutes. We had a little breakdown at the end of the first half and gave the goal away. It was a great finish, but I think we could have done better in the moments leading up to that. Our girls have a belief in what we're doing and the process of wearing down a Big Ten team on the road. We kept telling them that there was an opportunity coming and Amanda put a great shot away."
How It Happened
Loyola goalkeeper
Naya Lipkens was called into action less than five minutes into the first half. A lofted ball in the box fell to the feet of Rylee Howard, who took aim the near post, only for an onrushing Lipkens to produce an impressive point-blank stop.
Following another save by Lipkens in the 14
th minute, the Ramblers quickly looked to counter.
Sarah Noonan corralled a feed from
Megan Nemec before unleashing a blast from the edge of the box that was parried over the bar by Wisconsin netminder Erin McKinney.
With spells of good play occurring at both ends, Wisconsin struck for the night's opening goal in the late stages of the first half, with Maia Richters rifling her attempt inside the far post to stake the hosts to a 1-0 lead at the intermission.
Lipkens kept the deficit at one six minutes into the second half, comfortably collecting Emma Jaskaniec's left-footed effort from the edge of the box.
Nemec came tantalizingly close to putting Loyola back on level terms, heading into the arms of McKinney in the 56
th minute. The Badger goalkeeper was up to the task again just past the hour mark, smothering Cassidy's shot from 15 yards out.
With time ticking away, Cassidy provided the late heroics. The senior drilled a pass from
Madeleine Barone past a diving McKinnon at her near post, setting off a wild celebration as Loyola picked up its first result against a nationally-ranked foe since 2019.
Looking At The Numbers
- Cassidy's goal, her first of the season, marked the eighth tally of her collegiate career.
- Barone picked up her fourth career assist on Cassidy's strike.
- Lipkens was fantastic in goal, closing the night with six saves.
- After being outshot by an 8-1 margin in the first half, Loyola closed the gap during the final 45 minutes, with Wisconsin owning a slim 5-4 edge in attempts during the second half.
Up Next
Loyola heads south to Edwardsville, Ill. on Sunday, August 28 to battle SIUE in a 2 p.m. kickoff inside Korte Stadium.
