Women’s Soccer Stays Undefeated at Home with Historic Win Against Dayton

The Loyola women’s soccer team beat the University of Dayton 1-0 Thursday Sept. 19 in their first conference game of the season. Fourth-year midfielder Jaimee Cibulka scored the only goal of the match, her first of the season.

In a slow start to the game, the Flyers maintained possession of the ball for 60% of the first half, with three shots and only one on target. 

In the fourth minute, the Flyers took three consecutive corner kicks, all by third-year defender Kyra Karfonta. The first and second were headed out by the Loyola defense, while the third was headed out by Dayton’s own player. 

First-year Dayton midfielder Liv Grend committed a foul on graduate defender Alaina Abel in the eighth minute. Just 40 seconds later, second-year forward Jadyn Harris fouled Karfonta. 

Harris moved the ball downfield for Loyola and took a shot which was wide right. Dayton gained possession after the miss, taking it into Rambler territory with a shot on goal by third-year Dayton midfielder Jenna Hallbeck. It was headed away by the Loyola defense. 

Another Dayton corner occurred in the 21st minute when a kick from Karfonta was deflected and soared wide right from the goal. 

Dayton kept up the offensive pressure with a shot from fourth-year Flyer forward Noel Blain which was blocked by fourth-year defender Ava Metaj, awarding the Flyers yet another corner kick. Redshirt first-year goalkeeper Allison Deardorff blocked the shot, ending the attack.

In the 32nd minute, Loyola had possession and took a shot which was saved by third-year Dayton goalkeeper Batoul Reda. The first half ended scoreless. 

Loyola interim head coach Angela Staveskie said getting pinned in their own defensive half kept the ball in Dayton’s possession. 

“[Our] first look should always be to go forward,” Staveskie said. “But there were opportunities we saw towards the end of the first half to go forward, and we took more advantage of that in the second half.”

Loyola opened  the second half with a shot from fourth-year midfielder Taylor Harrison, but it was stopped by third-year Dayton defender and midfielder Ella Raimondi. She moved quickly down the field and took a shot, but it was snagged by Deardorff. 

In the 49th minute, Harrison fouled Raimondi, which allowed the Flyers to keep possession in the Ramblers’ half of the field. Dayton wasn’t able to take advantage of the opportunity, as they were called for offsides.

The Ramblers were able to take advantage of the call as second-year forward and midfielder Zoe Hevey got off a shot on the goal, but it was blocked by Reda.

In the 56th minute, there was a foul on Karfonta by second-year midfielder Maggie Schmidt. Karfonta was given a chance at the goal with a free kick, which was saved by Deardorff.

Loyola saved the Flyers’ back-to-back corner kicks in the 62nd minute. They took it down field, where the only goal of the game was recorded in the 68th minute by Cibulka via an assist from first-year forward Jocelyn Leigh. The ball bounced from the top post to the right post and ended in the net, barely missing Reda’s fingers.

Following her first goal of the season, Staveskie said Cibulka has played with her heart for the last four years. 

“She’s put her 110% blood, sweat and tears into this program,” Staveskie said. “To see her have that moment was special.”

The game finished with another Dayton corner by Karfonta in the 89th minute. With a save, the Ramblers secured the win. 

The game marked the first time in conference history Loyola women’s soccer has scored against Dayton. The team also remains undefeated at Hoyne field. 

The Ramblers are on the road the next two weeks, where Staveskie said they plan on focusing on intense training. 

“It’s important that everything we do every day is really well thought out,” Staveskie said. “And really intentional about how we are saving our legs and maximizing players so they’re ready for the moment.”

The Ramblers continue conference play Sunday, Sept. 22 facing off against Fordham University. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.