CHICAGO (October 2, 2022)
 
In Short…
Naya Lipkens racked up a season-high eight saves in goal as visiting Dayton (12-1-1, 6-0 A-10) dealt the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team a 1-0 defeat this afternoon at Loyola Soccer Park.  Following today's result, the Ramblers now sit at 6-5-2 overall (2-3 A-10).
 
Head Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"It's disappointing.  We worked on some things this week in the final third.  I thought we had better composure, but the end product wasn't there.  We talked to the girls about being a little more composed in those crucial moments, whether it was getting a shot off quicker or that final pass to open up a teammate.  We just weren't sharp enough.  We have to get better in the final third against top-tier competition in this league.  That's two games in a row where we have a total of zero shots on goal.  Some chances are looking dangerous, but we're not getting the final product.  We have to get better this week heading into our game against Saint Joseph's."
 
How It Happened
Loyola looked to come out on the front foot, generating a corner kick just 62 seconds in.  Lipkens kicked off a busy afternoon between the pipes in the third minute when she calmly collected Itala Gemelli's headed effort.  Megan Nemec looked to spark the Ramblers' attack in the 18^th minute, seeing her shot from the right side of the 18-yard box deflected by a Dayton defender.
 
Lipkens came up with a highlight reel stop in the 27^th minute to keep the Ramblers on level terms.  Gemelli broke free down the right side and unleashed a right-footed blast that forced the Rambler netminder to make an outstretched save at her far post.  Lipkens added another denial in the 39^th minute to ensure a scoreless stalemate at the intermission.
 
Dayton wasted no time in pinning Loyola back in its own third to open the second half, peppering Lipkens with attempts in the opening minutes.  Noel Blain had a golden opportunity to put the visitors in front in the 50^th minute when a corner kick fell to her feet at the back post, only for Lipkens to make a point-blank stop to keep the two teams deadlocked.
 
The Flyers' were rewarded for their persistence in the 54^th minute, with Blain tucking her attempt from 15 yards out past a diving Lipkens and inside the far post to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Despite its best efforts, Loyola struggled mightily to break down a well-organized Dayton defense.  Lipkens kept the deficit at one in the 83^rd minute, making a pair of stops in rapid succession on Gemelli and Laney Huber, respectively, but the Ramblers were unable to find an equalizer in the closing minutes as the Flyers claimed all three points in the conference table.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Lipkens put together one of her top outings as a Rambler, closing the afternoon with a season-high eight saves.  The Bloomfield, Conn. native now has five games with at least five stops this season.
- Nemec and Amanda Cassidy each tallied attempts for Loyola.
- For the second time in as many games, the Ramblers were held without a shot on goal, as Dayton finished with a 9-0 edge in the category.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens a stretch that sees it play three of its final five games on the road on Saturday, October 8 when it heads to Philadelphia, Pa. for a 12 p.m. (CT) kickoff against Saint Joseph's.