LEADING OFF
In their first meeting ever, Loyola University Chicago (8-3-5, 3-1-4 A-10) is on the road to face Rhode Island in both teams' penultimate regular season Atlantic 10 matchup.
QUICK KICKS
- As of Sunday, Oct. 20, Loyola is No. 5 in the Atlantic 10 standings behind No. 4 UMass, No. 3 Fordham, No. 2 Saint Louis and No. 1 Dayton.
- Allison Deardorff is second in the league in goals against average (.688) and tied for first in shutouts per game (.563) with nine clean sheets so far this season.
- Defender Alaina Abel is on an active 2,970-minute streak playing the full 90 in the last 33 consecutive matches.
- The Ramblers' previously undefeated home record, 7-0-1, was their best since going 6-0-2 in 2021.
SCOUTING THE RHODE ISLAND RAMS
Rhode Island is 6-7-3 overall and 3-4-1 in A-10 play so far this season. The Rams have league wins over La Salle (1-0), Richmond (6-0) and Fordham (2-1). They''ve fallen by just one goal to Duquesne, UMass, Dayton and St. Bonaventure. Rhode Island currently ranks ninth in the conference standings, one foot out from the A-10 tournament. Last season, the Rams fell to La Salle in the tournament's opening round.
RAMS TO WATCH
- Lauren MacDonald is having a standout sophomore season, leading the team with 15 points (six goals and three assists). The forward is second on the team in shots (34) and in shots on goal (18). MacDonald had a brace, including the game-winner, in Rhode Island's big non-conference win over Boston University.
- Senior forward Tierra Garniss is the team-leader in shots with an astounding 45, 19 of which were on frame. Garniss' junior campaign was cut short due to injury, but in her second year she led the Rams in points, goals, shots and shots on goal, and in her debut season was second on the team in shots. The veteran is not afraid to shoot and will be a key piece for the Ramblers' defense to lock down.
- Starting goalkeeper Abby McCarthy is 4-5-2 through 11 matches and has three clean sheets between the posts this season. She's had 12 goals scored against her and accumulated 990 minutes in goal this year.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting ever between the Loyola Ramblers and the Rhode Island Rams.
