LEADING OFF
Loyola Chicago is out east this week for a pair of road matches at VCU on Thursday, Oct. 3 and at Richmond on Sunday, Oct. 6. The Ramblers are 6-2-4 overall and 1-0-3 in league play heading into more A-10 action.
QUICK KICKS
- Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Allison Deardorff was named the A-10 Rookie of the Week in her third conference award this season. She recorded four saves and her sixth career shutout against La Salle on Sept. 29 to help Loyola stay undefeated at home. Against then-No. 20 Saint Louis, Deardorff had five saves and shut out SLU for 80 minutes before a Billikens penalty kick goal equalized the match.
- In the league, Deardorff ranks second in goals against average (.750) and third in shutouts per game (six), saves (56) and saves per game (4.67). Overall, the Ramblers are second in the A-10 in goals allowed (9), behind SLU (7).
- Sophomore forward Jadyn Harris scored her first career goal against No. 20 Saint Louis on Thursday, Sept. 26 to mark Loyola's first point against a Top 25 team since 2019.
- Defender Alaina Abel is on an active 2,610-minute streak playing the full 90 in the last 29 consecutive matches, dating back to the Kansas match on Aug. 20, 2023.
SCOUTING VCU
VCU is 2-6-3 overall and 1-0-3 in A-10 play. The Rams are currently on a five-match unbeaten streak, compiled of two back-to-back shutout wins, 3-0 against UNCW and 1-0 at Davidson, and three consecutive A-10 draws.
The Rams are No. 13 in the current league standings and rank seventh in team shots, one spot ahead of Loyola.
RAMS TO WATCH
Senior Allison Karpovich is the Rams' starting goalkeeper, recording 913 minutes between the posts, 33 saves and a 1.68 goals against average. The Virginia native has posted three shutouts in the last five matches, including two VCU victories. Last season, the Ramblers scored twice on Karpovich who made three saves.
Kanna Matsuhisa is having a standout senior season, leading the team in points (11) with five goals and one assist. Matsuhisa, a midfielder from Tokyo, is also the Rams' leader in shots (22) and shots on goal (13). She scored the sole goal in VCU's opening two matches then a brace against UNCW, including the game-winner, in the Rams' first season victory and she had the equalizing goal against A-10 foe St. Joseph's.
Junior midfielder Y-Van Nguyen netted the game-winner in the Rams' conference opener against Davidson and the first goal in the draw with St. Bonaventure to help VCU earn another point in A-10 play. She is second on the team in shots on goal with nine and 14 total shots.
SERIES HISTORY
The Rams lead the series, 1-0-1, against the Ramblers. Loyola and VCU met for the first time in 2022, the Ramblers' debut season in the A-10, and the Rams won, 1-0, in Richmond. Last season, the teams drew, 2-2, at Loyola Soccer Park.
