LEADING OFF
Loyola Chicago is on the road to meet reigning Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament champion No. 22 Saint Louis on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. The Ramblers will look for their first program victory over the Billikens.
QUICK KICKS
- Ramblers Faith Grisdale and Jaimee Cibulka scored a goal apiece in the 2-2 draw at Fordham on Sept. 22, marking Grisdale's first career goal and Cibulka's second of the season.
- Cibulka scored the game-winner against Dayton in both teams' A-10 opener on Thursday, Sept. 19 at Loyola Soccer Park. It marked the Ramblers' first victory ever against the Flyers.
- Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Allison Deardorff recorded her fifth career shutout against the Flyers and set a career high with 11 saves against Fordham.
- Defender Alaina Abel is on an active 2,430-minute streak playing the full 90 in the last 27 consecutive matches, dating back to the Kansas match on Aug. 20, 2023.
- The Ramblers are 6-0 at home so far this season, matching their best home record from 2021 when the team went 6-0 at Loyola Soccer Park.
SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS
Saint Louis is 6-1-3 overall and 2-0 in A-10 play. The Billikens have secured some big non-conference results this season. They had a draw, 1-1, against then-No. 4 BYU on Aug. 22 and defeated then-No. 14 Xaiver, 3-2, on Sept. 12 in Cincinnati.
In conference play, Saint Louis shut out Massachusetts 1-0 on Sept. 19 then blanked George Washington, 4-0, on Sept. 22.
BILLIKENS TO WATCH
- At the helm of Saint Louis' brick wall defense is fifth-year goalkeeper Emily Puricelli (6-1-3) who has already earned three A-10 weekly honors so far this season. She's recorded six shutouts (two combined), 44 saves and a goals against average of 0.67. Puricelli was named the A-10 Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023 and the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year after her freshman season.
- Senior forward Emily Gaebe is the Billiken to beat. She leads the team in points (17) and scoring (7). It's evident that she is not afraid to shoot, and can do so accurately, with a team-high of 40 shots and 22 shots on goal. She netted the game-winner in the 3-2 upset over Xaiver. Gaebe earned A-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 and A-10 Rookie of the Year in 2021 after her debut season.
- Hannah Sawyer, another senior forward, is second on the team in goals (3) and shots with 16 (9 SOG) through eight of 10 matches. The 5-foot-3 Billiken has come in clutch this season, scoring the game-winner against in-state rival Missouri and notching the second goal against Xaiver.
SERIES HISTORY
The Billikens own the series advantage 5-0. Last season, Saint Louis shut out Loyola 1-0 in Chicago. The two programs meet for their sixth match in history and third as A-10 opponents.
