News Releases

Women's Soccer Rallies For 2-1 Overtime Win

9/15/2002

• Box Score

Chicago (Sept. 15, 2002) - The Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team overcame a sluggish start and a one goal deficit at halftime to post its second win of the season and learned that inches can mean the difference between a win and a loss. The Ramblers defeated Drury (0-5-1), 2-1, in overtime to improve their record to 2-2. Sophomore Heather Sorgatz (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard North) recovered a loose ball in Drury's end and lofted the game-winner from 25 yards out. The shot bounced off the hands of the Drury goalkeeper and ricocheted off the cross bar and into the net providing the difference in the contest.

"It took a little bit for us to find our feet in the first half but we came out and played our game in the second half with confidence and basically dominated," said Loyola head coach Brendan Eitz.

Drury struck first in the match when Mandy Reagan one-timed a shot from six yards out after the ball had been deflected off the cross bar by Loyola's keeper Heather Joseph (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Central). Meghan Kelly's shot from the right side was punched into the cross bar by Joseph but Reagan was there to clean-up the miss in the 30th minute. Loyola played well in the second half, following a sloppy first half in which the Ramblers were called for nine fouls to Drury's two. Loyola's defense also stepped up, allowing a combined three shots in the second half and overtime while permitting seven shots in the first 45 minutes.

"The team as a whole, from field players to reserves, deserves a lot of credit for working themselves out of a 1-0 hole," said Eitz. "Our team responded nicely in the second half and I believe that showed the character of this squad."

Freshman Jamie Wasielewski (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Township) got the Ramblers on the board eight minutes into the second half when she headed home a cross from sophomore Lanisa Tricoci (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park). Tricoci led a charge down the right side and then fed a beautiful ball to Wasielewski who knocked it past a diving Panther goalkeeper.

"Lanisa and Was were working really nice today," said Eitz. "They were working off each other as the two front runners at a time when the team needed it."

The constant pressure of Loyola's offense was too much for Drury's defense who appeared to be fatigued in the waning minutes of regulation and the entire overtime. The Ramblers pressured Drury much of the final 48 minutes which led to Sorgatz' game-winner, her second goal of the season.

Loyola returns to action at Loyola Soccer Park on Thursday evening at 7 pm against IPFW.