EVANSVILLE, Ind. (September 29, 2021)
In Short…
The Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team used a second-half barrage to erase a halftime deficit and race past Evansville (5-2-4, 1-1-1 MVC), 3-1, this afternoon at Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville, Ind. Following today's win, the Ramblers improve to 7-2-1 overall and a perfect 3-0-0 in Missouri Valley Conference action.
Head Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"I'm so proud of our ladies for refocusing in the second 45 minutes. Evansville executed their game plan to perfection in the first half, so it was up to us to find an answer, which we did."
How It Happened
Loyola saw the better of the action in the opening 45 minutes, keeping Evansville goalkeeper Michaela Till on her toes for long stretches. Junior
Amanda Cassidy headed narrowly wide of the near post from close range in the 12
th minute before senior
Abby Swanson saw her one-time effort sail high of goal just past the quarter-hour mark.
Senior
Bailey Faulkner took aim from distance in the 26
th minute, but her try was comfortably brought in by Till. Seconds later, junior
Megan Nemec found Cassidy with space at the top of the box, only to see the junior fire over the crossbar.
After sustaining pressure for the majority of the first half hour, Evansville broke the deadlock in the 32
nd minute, as an Emily Ormson right-footed volley from 20 yards out found its way inside the near post, sending the Purple Aces into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
Loyola was back on the attack coming out of the locker room and netted the equalizer in the 51
st minute. Nemec dashed into the box before playing a pass forward to fellow junior
Megan Demski, who rifled her try in at the far post to make it 1-1. Swanson made a bid to put the Maroon & Gold on top five minutes later, unleashing a rocket from 25 yards out that flew just wide of goal.
Following a stop from senior goalkeeper
Maddie Hausmann that kept things level, the Ramblers cashed in off a set piece in the 74
th minute. Following a Purple Aces foul, junior
Olivia Knab struck a right-footed effort that found its way around a wall of Evansville defenders before caroming off the far post and in to give Loyola a 2-1 lead. Any remaining drama was laid to rest with less than four minutes remaining in regulation when sophomore
Sarah Noonan smashed home from six yards out off a feed by graduate student
Jenna Ross to up the margin to 3-1.
Looking At The Numbers
- Loyola has now won 27 straight games when it scores at least two goals.
- Demski and Knab each netted their second goals of the season, with Knab recording her second career game-winner.
- Noonan's strike in the waning minutes marked her first collegiate goal.
- Nemec notched her team-best four assist of the year on Demski's opener, while Ross dished out her first helper of the year on Noonan's tally.
- Loyola's three goals on the day are the most allowed by Evansville in a game this season.
- The Ramblers closed play with a 21-6 advantage in shots.
Up Next
Loyola is back on the road on Sunday, October 3 when it takes on Drake in Des Moines, Iowa.
