CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago women's soccer turned in a strong all-around team performance in a 2-0 shutout at crosstown rival DePaul on Sunday, Aug. 24. Junior midfielder Maggie Schmidt buried an upper 90 in the second half for the game-winner and redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Allison Deardorff staved off two Blue Demons on-target attempts to earn her second shutout of the season.

The Ramblers improved to 2-1 overall with the victory. 

Coach Quotes: Jon Sandoval  
"Overall, I'm very proud of the way they finished off that match. Key moments for us today came from our motivation and willingness to play forward. Our players attacked the ball and it ultimately led to a really great goal from Schmidt, and then another set piece opportunity that we worked on from the week. To simply put, we decided to play with more of an edge and sharpness than the way we showed up in the first 45."

"I'm hoping we understand that we must come out with more energy and execution from the first whistle. I'm proud of how the group responded in the second half, but perhaps down the road we may not have that chance. When we play the right soccer and read what the opponent is giving us, we can be really dangerous. At times, we have to stop being our own worst enemy. For a lot of these players, it's their first minutes in a Red Line Rivalry, and I am happy they got to experience a win. Harnessing those emotions and that motivation into this week with some tough Big Ten opponents coming will be key."

How It Happened 

• Loyola dictated much of the early possession, moving the ball swiftly through the midfield and connecting passes to keep DePaul off balance. Senior defender Emmie Roberts registered the first shot of the game just three minutes in, followed by a strike from senior forward Molly Pistorius that was saved by Blue Demons goalkeeper Mason Hillery.
• The Ramblers' defensive shape frustrated the Blue Demons' attack, as the hosts were held without a single shot until the 38th minute. DePaul managed three attempts in the closing seven minutes of the half, but Loyola's back line held firm to send the match into halftime scoreless. 
• Loyola wasted no time applying pressure after the break, with Pistorius forcing a corner kick in the first two minutes. The breakthrough finally came in the 54th minute when the Ramblers pressed off a DePaul goal kick, and after a few challenges, the ball fell to Schmidt, who drilled a right-footed strike into the top left corner from right outside the box. 
• Just four minutes later, Loyola doubled its lead when a DePaul defender misplayed a clearance into her own net, giving the Ramblers a 2-0 cushion in the 59th minute.
• The Blue Demons pushed forward in search of a response, but the Ramblers' defense thwarted multiple late DePaul opportunities to preserve the clean sheet. 

Inside the Box Score 

• Schmidt's goal marked the second overall of her career as well as her second career game-winner. 
• The victory marks two road wins in a row for the Ramblers. 
• Loyola forced six of its seven corner kicks in the second half. 
• Junior forward Zoe Hevey led Loyola with three shots on goal. 

Up Next  
The Ramblers prepare for a two-match homestand against a pair of Big Ten schools: the No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. and the Purdue Boilermakers on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. for Pack the Park.