Women’s Soccer Eliminated, Wrapping Up Season With 2-2 Tie Against VCU

Women’s soccer’s season came to an end Sunday afternoon after a 2-2 tie with Virginia Commonwealth University, leaving the Ramblers just short of qualifying for the Atlantic-10 Tournament. 

Loyola entered the game 7-7-3 and 3-3-3 in conference play following a 0-0 tie against La Salle University Oct. 19. With a win, the Ramblers would’ve earned enough points to pass VCU and take eighth place in the A-10 to reach postseason play. 

VCU came into Loyola Soccer Park 5-8-3 and 4-4-1 in A-10 competition. The Rams could secure their spot in the A-10 tournament with either a win or tie in what was also their final game of the regular season.

After the game, head coach Barry Bimbi said it was disappointing for the season to come to an end without qualifying for postseason play, but he was still proud of the players for giving everything they had. 

“They knew what was at stake and they knew we needed a win and three points to get into the A-10 tournament and from the opening whistle to battling to the end they did everything we’ve asked,” he said. “They never folded and they showed what pride they had in this program.”

Prior to the start of the game, graduating Ramblers were honored in their final home game at Loyola Soccer Park. Midfielder Amanda Cassidy, defender Alaina Abel, midfielder Madeleine Barone, forward Sarah Noonan, defender Olivia Knab, midfielder Olivia Rhodes and goalkeeper Naya Lipkens were all featured in the ceremony. 

Bimbi said the departing fourth-years wore the Loyola jersey with pride and passion and gave their all in their final game. 

“Last year, we graduated some all-time great players in the program, and these girls stepped into those shoes and filled it and added some to it,” he said. “They did a great job filling those holes in and really contributing to a fantastic year as far as the quality of play.”

The game began with a strong Loyola offensive push in the first five minutes. First-year forward Zoe Hevey, third-year midfielder Jamee Cibulka and third-year midfielder Taylor Harrison all got off strong shot attempts. Hevey’s was just wide left, Harrison’s was blocked by a Ram defender while Cibulka’s shot was on goal but was saved by third-year VCU goalkeeper Allison Karpovich. 

The Rams responded with pressure of their own in the ninth minute when third-year midfielder Kanna Matsuhisa forced Lipkens to make a save on a hard-kicked shot in the bottom left of the goal. 

In the 11th minute, Harrison sped her way to a great chance, running all the way from midfield to the top of the box where she missed wide. 

Matsuhisa came through for VCU in the 17th minute when she got a shot from the wing past Lipkens to give the Rams an early advantage. Fourth-year midfielder Milica Bulatovic was credited with an assist on the play.

Loyola pushed downfield and tried to respond in the next few minutes. The attack yielded a couple corner kick opportunities and a shot by Abel which was stopped.

In the 29th minute, Rhodes took the ball herself and fired a shot past a diving Karpovich, equalizing the match at one. Rhodes was unassisted in scoring her second goal of the season. 

Over the next 10 minutes the two sides traded unproductive possessions, each managing to set up a corner kick set piece without a result. 

In the 38th minute, fourth-year VCU forward Ella Higgins, who had been subbed into the game just a minute before, got a hard shot past Lipkens but it struck the crossbar in a break for the Ramblers. 

Neither side could get much going in the closing minutes of the half, and the two teams hit the benches knotted 1-1 at the break. 

Loyola came out strong early in the second half, setting up a series of crosses and fast break opportunities in the first couple minutes. A foul by third-year Ram defender Jordan Pieklo in the 52nd minute set up Cassidy for a free kick. 

Cassidy’s shot was on target and forced Karpovich to make a leaping save, but she couldn’t haul it in and the ball bounced in front of the goal. Barone capitalized on the rebound and scored her second goal of the season to give the Ramblers a 2-1 lead. Cassidy was credited with an assist. 

VCU — needing to tie the game to keep their season alive — pushed hard offensively to get an equalizing goal. In the 60th minute, third-year midfielder Greta Kraszula broke through with a shot attempt that went straight to Lipkens in the middle of the goal for an easy save. 

Loyola didn’t let up on their attack either, producing two more shot opportunities off the back of strong ball movement. Abel stepped up defensively in the second half, working hard to keep the Rams forwards as far from Lipkens and the goal as possible. 

Second-year VCU midfielder Anna Bagley nearly scored the equalizer in the 79th minute with a shot to the top right corner, but Lipkens was able to bat it away with one arm. A Ram corner kick opportunity followed and they continued to maintain possession.

In the 81st minute, the Rams forced Lipkens to come forward to try and grab the ball from Bagley’s feet, but before she could, Bagley passed it to second-year forward Kendyl Sarver who blasted it into the open net to tie the match at 2-2.

Neither team would get off another shot in the waning minutes as the VCU defense stepped up to deny the Ramblers any good looks down the stretch. The best chance for Loyola was a free kick set piece in the 86th minute, which yielded no result.

The two teams remained tied as the final whistle sounded. The Rams bench ran onto the field to celebrate their qualification to the A-10 tournament as the Ramblers made one final march to the stands to greet their supporters. 

Bimbi said the team learned the A-10 a little better in their second year competing in the league. 

“This group has been great everyday with the energy and the passion that they have for it,” he said. “We added things in, you know, different things tactically and they grasped it and implemented it to the next game and the next game and they just kept building.”

Featured image by Aidan Cahill | The Phoenix