Sept. 24, 2006
Box Score
CHICAGO - Loyola scored three goals, and had another disallowed for offsides, in a nine-minute span early in the second half and cruised to a 3-1 win over Wright State this afternoon in the Horizon League opener for both teams at Loyola Soccer Park. The Ramblers improve to 6-4-1 (1-0 Horizon) while handing the Raiders (7-1-2, 0-1) their first loss of the season.
"I am very pleased to come away with the win," said head coach Frank Mateus. "We struggled a little bit to find our feet in the first half but to come out and score three goals in the second 45 against a good defensive team like Wright State that had given up just five goals all season coming in is good for us. To open the Horizon League with a good win like this should give us momentum heading into a couple of tough road matches next week."
Neither team was able to generate much offense in the first half but Loyola found it rhythm early in the second frame. Cynthia Morote-Ariza shook free down the right and fired a low cross from the bi-line that Jackie Vera steered into the net from close range to get LU on the board in the 51st minute. It appeared as if the Ramblers had a second minutes later, when Laura Heidenreich headed in a Morote-Ariza free kick but the goal was waived off on an offsides call. However, Loyola managed a second shortly thereafter, as nice work from Amy Lomas played in Katie Heidenreich down the right flank. Heidenreich lofted a cross towards the net where Morote-Ariza was able to head past the Raider keeper for a 2-0 lead in the 58th minute. Vera completed the flurry with her second of the match on the hour. Heather Lau played in Lomas on the left wing and Vera met her far-post cross with a diving header for a 3-0 lead. Wright State's Amy Miller pulled one back with an 87th-minute penalty after Jodie Shoaf was taken down in the box to complete the scoring.
Loyola returns to action next Friday afternoon, opening a three-match Horizon League road swing at Butler. Kick-off from Indianapolis is set for 3:30 p.m.
