In Short…
Playing its third consecutive NCAA Tournament qualifier from a season ago, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team (2-2-1) battled No. 19 Xavier (4-0-1) for all 90 minutes this evening, but a Chloe Netzel goal with only 59 seconds remaining saw the Musketeers escape Loyola Soccer Park with a 1-0 victory.
 
Head Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"I think we battled the whole game.  It's obviously very disappointing to give up a goal so late.  We started the game off a little nervy and couldn't get our feet under us.  I thought we really played well that last 25 minutes of the first half and created some really good chances.  At the end of the day though, you have to take your chances.  We have to do better in those areas.  Credit to Xavier.  They were really good in the second half, had us on our heels, and added a little tension to the game."
 
How It Happened
Xavier came out as the aggressors, quickly pinning Loyola back in its own third.  Naya Lipkens impressed in goal, making a pair of saves in the opening stages to keep things knotted up, none bigger than her diving stop on Sonia Vargas' right-footed rocket in the 16^th minute.
 
As the first stanza progressed, Loyola began to find its footing, responding with spells of prolonged possession to repel a dangerous Musketeer attack.  Both sides struggled to find a route through the other in the final third though, as the two Jesuit rivals found themselves locked in a 0-0 stalemate at halftime.
 
Lipkens continued to shine between the pipes in the second half, making four stops across the final 45 minutes.  After going to ground to corral Netzel's blast in the 65^th minute, the Rambler netminder turned in arguably her top save of the night with just a quarter of an hour remaining when she stoned Avery Lockwood's effort from inside the six-yard box.
 
Just seconds after Lipkens' highlight reel denial, Madeleine Barone nearly sent the crowd into a frenzy, launching an attempt from 25 yards out narrowly over the Xavier crossbar.
 
Lipkens stood tall in goal as time wound down, registering stops in the 84^th and 86^th minutes, but Netzel struck with the night's deciding tally in the final minute, tucking her attempt from six yards out inside the far post to extend Xavier's season-opening unbeaten run to five games.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Lipkens was terrific in goal, matching a season high with six saves.
- Abby Swanson led Loyola's offensive efforts with two attempts.
- Xavier closed the night with a 16-3 edge in shots and a 10-6 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Up Next
Loyola begins a stretch of three straight contests against in-state opponents on Sunday, September 4 when it takes on Western Illinois.  Kickoff from Alumni Stadium in Macomb, Ill. is slated for 1 p.m.