CHICAGO (August 18, 2023) - The Ramblers return to Loyola Soccer Park for the first time since last season to host Kansas for the 2023 home opener. Both teams are on the hunt for their first win. The Ramblers dropped a close battle at Illinois earlier this week, 3-2, while the Jayhawks and Wisconsin were knotted at the end of regulation in the season opener to draw. Loyola and Kansas will kickoff at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
QUICK KICKS
• At Illinois, Taylor Harrison and Zoe Hevey found the back of the net for the Ramblers. Harrison's goal marked her eighth career goal, while Hevey netted the first of her collegiate career. Jaimee Cibulka and Olivia Rhodes tallied a point with an assist each.
• Loyola Chicago was selected fifth in this year's Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll earlier this week. The Ramblers earned 158 votes in the poll and sit behind Massachusetts in fourth. UMass earned one first-place vote, while Saint Louis was crowned the preseason favorite with the remaining 14 votes.
• The Ramblers posted an 8-8-3 overall record and a 4-5-1 finish in A10 play last season. They earned the No. 8 seed in the A10 Tournament for their first ever berth as part of the conference. The 2022 season came to an end in the first round to the eventual champs, Saint Louis.
• Loyola returns 18 letterwinners to the 2023 roster, including nine starters. Among top returners is senior defender Alaina Abel. Abel was tabbed to the A10 Second Team last year. She helped the Ramblers post five shutouts and played every minute of the regular season.
• Naya Lipkens will return in goal for Loyola. She earned one Defensive Player of the Week award last year. To end the season, Lipkens held a .90 goals against average and made 64 saves.
• In addition to the returners, Loyola added nine newcomers. Eight are freshman who look to log their first collegiate minutes, while Kenedi Jones is a junior transfer out of Lewis. Jones was a two-time Delahanty Award Winner and tallied two assists during her two-year campaign at Lewis.
• Barry Bimbi enters his 13th season as head coach of the Ramblers. Bimbi notched his 100th career win last year and sits at 106-91-29 overall ahead of the 2023 season. The women's soccer program is closing in on its 250th win since its inception in 1992 with an overall record of 246-315-45.
SCOUTING KANSAS
Kansas played to a 0-0 draw with Wisconsin in the season opener Thursday night and still look for its first win of the 2023 season. The Jayhawks return 16 letterwinners from last season's squad, while added seven newcomers, which includes one transfer. Kansas finished last season at 9-9-2 overall and 2-5-2 in the Big 12.
JAYHAWKS TO WATCH
• Shira Elinav led the Jayhawks in goals (8), shots (45), tied for most points (20), and shots on goal (22) last season. She netted a pair of goals against Drake for her first multi-goal game. Elinav earn one Offensive Player of the Week award on Oct. 4.
• Lexi Watts also returns to the starting line-up. Last season, Watts picked up All-Freshman honors in the Big 12 after finishing the season with six goals and 15 total points. She was tabbed Freshman of the week twice.
• Melania Pasar got the first start in goal for the Jayhawks. She tallied nine saves for the clean sheet against Wisconsin inn the opener. She totaled 53 saves last year and posted a team-leading four shutouts.
SERIES HISTORY
Since 2008, the Ramblers and Jayhawks have played twice and are even at 1-1. Loyola beat Kansas in 2008, while the Jayhawks evened things in 2019.
