Nov. 5, 2006

Box Score | Notes

Milwaukee, Wis. - Freshman Ashley Morawski headed home a free kick in the 85th minute to give Loyola a 2-1 win over Detroit in the Horizon League Championship title match this afternoon at Engelmann Field in Milwaukee, Wis. The win gives the Ramblers (14-6-3) their second-ever Horizon League championship (2003) and accompanying NCAA Tournament berth. Detroit's season ends with a 10-11 record.

"I am so proud of the young women on this team," said head coach Frank Mateus. "It is always nice when you can reach one of your goals and every single player on the roster contributed to this accomplishment. My hat goes off to Detroit, we knew it was going to be a battle for 90 minutes against them. I could not be happier with how we responded after they tied it up but we have had that kind of attitude all year long. Instead of getting down about it, we worked together, got back to what we do well and put one in the net."

Loyola opened the match strong and nearly opened the scoring after only 11 minutes. Good work from Jackie Vera on the left saw her gain some room to fire in a cross. Katie Heidenreich beat her mark but her volley just missed the upper-left corner of the net. Senior Mary Dale fired another warning shot 10 minutes later but she too saw her effort go over the bar. However, the constant pressure paid off shortly after that, as Cynthia Morote-Ariza turned the Titan defense inside-out, going on a 20-yard run through the midfield before playing in Vera who made no mistake, firing past the onrushing Detroit keeper to give LU a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute. Loyola continued to push forward in search of a second but settled for a 1-0 lead after an opening 45 minutes that saw the Ramblers own a 13-1 edge in shots.

Dale had another chance just miss the near-post in the early moments of the second half and Vera nearly doubled Loyola's lead in the 67th minute, shaking a defender at the top of the box before unleashing a shot that flashed just wide of the left post. Detroit began to push forward and found itself even 10 minutes later. A long punt from keeper Katie Fortenberry bounced over the head of a Loyola defender who then was called for a foul in the box to give the Titans a 78th-minute penalty, which reigning Horizon League Player of the Year Mary Parker took and converted to even the match. Rambler keeper Emily Peick was well positioned to deal with Nicole Gipson's long-distance effort in the 83rd minute and a Titan foul 30 yards from goal gave Loyola the opportunity it had been looking for, as Morawski slipped her mark to nod in Morote-Ariza's free kick for her third goal of the season and second in as many Horizon League tournament games. Five minutes of solid defending sealed the title.

"I do not know what to say, it was a great win for our team," said Morawski. "To be able to help contribute and get the game-winner is a great feeling."

"After they tied it up, we were a little shell-shocked but once we put the ball back in play, we knew what we had to do," said Dale. "We just went back to playing our game and we were able to get one at the end."

Morawski was joined on the all-tournament team by Vera and Heather Lau, with Morote-Ariza being named Most Valuable Player after her two-assist effort today.

Loyola will find out its NCAA Tournament destination tomorrow afternoon. The NCAA selection show will air on ESPNews at 2 p.m. CT.