Oct. 28, 2011

Box Score

CHICAGO - The Loyola women's soccer team defeated Butler, 2-1, tonight to cap off the 2011 Rambler season. Loyola, which has had an up and down season this fall, finishes with a 6-10-3 overall record, 2-4-2 Horizon League, while Butler falls to 8-9-1 overall, 3-5-0 Horizon League, to head into the Horizon League Tournament next weekend.

Despite trailing statistically to Butler, who had the 18-8 advantage in shots and 8-1 advantage in corner kicks, the Ramblers made their final minutes this fall count, as the team strung together both goals in the first half to come away with the victory.

Just over nine minutes into the game, freshman Valerie Gonyo capitalized on a set play after a penalty by the Bulldogs for the game-opening header. Fellow freshman Allison Rydberg tallied the assist, taking the direct kick to serve the ball in for the connection.

At the 36:55 minute mark, Ana Claudia Michelini notched her fifth goal of the season for the game-winner after Allison Shimer and Alex Brown worked the ball up the field to set up the successful attempt from eight yards out.

Butler was able to notch one goal in the second half to deny the shoutout, but the Rambler defense held strong to win the match outright. Elise Kotsakis shot to the lower right corner from 12 yards out to gain the point for the Bulldogs and set the score at 2-1.

Monika Lee led the Ramblers with three shots in the contest, while Moriah Schwarz added two of her own. In addition to the netters from Gonyo and Michelini, Sally Tashjian added an attempt to round out the team total of eight with a late attempt in the second.

Senior Katie Groesch started in goal for her final match as a Rambler. Groesch finished with five saves on the night, while Butler keeper Julie Burton collected two saves to take the loss and fall to 4-4-1.

Barely missing the grade to make the conference tournament, head coach Barry Bimbi and the Ramblers will now regroup and reload for the 2012 season.