CHICAGO (October 11, 2022) – With the 2022 regular season entering its final weeks, the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team (6-6-2, 2-4 A-10) has a golden opportunity to make a move up the Atlantic 10 Conference table this week. The Ramblers will first venture to Richmond, Va. on Thursday for a 6 p.m. (CT) tilt with VCU at Sports Backers Stadium. A 1 p.m. Sunday matinee with Duquesne at Loyola Soccer Park closes on the weekend.
Prior to kickoff against the Dukes, Loyola will honor its graduating seniors in a special ceremony. The program is also slated to welcome back multiple former Ramblers for Alumnae Day.
Last Time Out: Ashley Orendac found the back of the net with less than eight minutes remaining to push Saint Joseph's past Loyola, 1-0, last Saturday at Sweeney Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
Megan Nemec led the Ramblers on the day with four shots, while
Naya Lipkens was credited with a pair of saves in goal.
vs. VCU: One of just three teams yet to suffer a defeat in Atlantic 10 Conference play, VCU sits at 6-1-7 overall. The Rams' 4-0-2 mark in league play has them sitting third in the league table.
10th-year head coach Lindsey Martin's team is riding a four-game win streak that is part of an impressive 12-game unbeaten run that dates back to VCU's only defeat of the season, a 2-1 setback at the hands of No. 23 North Carolina State back on August 21 in Raleigh, N.C.
Kendyl Sarver spearheads the attack in the final third for the Rams, having put up seven goals and two assists this season. Kanna Matsuhisa, who has a team-best six assists to her name, is coming off a standout performance in the Rams' 2-1 road win at Dayton last Sunday. Matsuhisa tallied her first two goals of the season to be named the A-10 Offensive Player of the Week.
Whitney Horton has proven to be one of the league's top goalkeepers, sporting a 0.643 goals against average that ranks third in the Atlantic 10.
vs. Duquesne: Duquesne, which is idle until it visits Rogers Park, holds a 5-5-2 overall mark and a 3-2-2 ledger in the A-10. Most recently, the Dukes battled Davidson to a 1-1 stalemate this past Sunday at Rooney Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Piloted by head coach Al Alvine, now in his 11th year in charge in The Steel City, Duquesne is led up top by Jaimi Araujo's five goals, the most recent of which came in the Dukes' matchup with Davidson. Mackenzie Muir has also added three tallies.
In goal, Duquesne is backstopped by Maddy Neundorfer. The starter in all 12 games in 2022, Neundorfer owns a 0.811 save percentage and a 1.44 goals against average.
Series Stuff: Loyola will matchup against both VCU and Duquesne for the first time this week.
Up Next: Loyola closes out the regular season next week by hosting Massachusetts in its home finale on Thursday, October 20 ahead of a road tilt with Richmond on Sunday, October 23.
