Sudkamp Scores First Collegiate Goal in Women’s Soccer’s First Win of the Season

The Loyola Women’s soccer team defeated Central Michigan University 1-0 Aug. 17 in their first away game of the season. First-year defender Abby Sudkamp scored the only goal of the game, the first of her Loyola career. 

The match started off quickly, with back-to-back corners for the Chippewas. The first was high and snagged by redshirt second-year goalkeeper Allison Deardorff while the second was headed away by a Loyola defender. 

Two fouls on second-year midfielder Olivia Anderson gave Central Michigan a chance at possessions they couldn’t capitalize on. The Ramblers followed with two corners, both landing out on the right far side.

Shots by second-year defender Catherine Cline and third-year forward Jadyn Harris both skimmed the side of the net. Another corner kick gave the Ramblers a chance at a goal, but it was kicked out by a Chippewa defender. 

A foul called on Central Michigan’s second-year forward Ella Betzold handed the ball to Loyola. Third-year forward and midfielder Zoe Hevey raced down the field. Her kick landed in the back of the net, but an offside call against Hevey negated the goal. 

The 25th minute found Hevey in front of the goal again, but it was saved by third-year Chippewa goalkeeper Brylee Borgman. A foul on third-year forward Maggie Schmidt gave Central Michigan possession again, but they still couldn’t gain momentum against the Ramblers. 

Loyola earned another corner in the 27th minute, which was kicked over the players’ heads to the other corner of the field. Two consecutive fouls on fourth-year forward Meghan Economos and first-year forward Ava Fleming gave the Chippewas the ball, but it was stolen by the Rambler defense. 

In the 33rd minute, a foul called on Sudkamp resulted in a shot to the bottom center of the net by third-year Chippewa defender Olivia Bretz, but the ball was scooped up by Deardorff. 

A corner for the Ramblers in the 40th minute led to no shot, and a shot by redshirt second-year forward Emily Rossi was snagged by Borgman. A foul on third-year forward Jordan Bailey led to no result, ending the first half. 

Hevey got things going in the second half with a shot on target being saved by Borgman. A corner kick for Loyola was knocked down and kicked out after a scramble by the defense. 

Subsequent fouls on Cline and Schmidt allowed a soaring shot by second-year midfielder Grace Cameron. A corner kick for the Chippewas was kicked out by the Ramblers, batted back in by Central Michigan and ultimately swatted away by Deardorff. 

A shot by Hevey followed a goal attempt by Betzold, which was saved by Deardorff. A Rambler corner kick was awarded in the 58th minute, but it was headed out by a Central Michigan defender. 

A foul called on first-year forward Jimena Perez Ayala created a chance for the Ramblers, but shots by Hevey and Cline couldn’t find the net. An offside call on Central Michigan gave Loyola the ball, and two consecutive corner kicks were booted out by the Chippewa defense. 

Central Michigan had a corner kick in the 74th minute that was scooped away by Deardorff. Hevey then dribbled the ball down the field, but her kick was invalidated by another offside call against the Ramblers. 

In the 77th minute, second-year midfielder Lydia Case took a corner kick and found Sudkamp. She headed the ball into the back of the net, breaking the tie and giving Loyola a 1-0 lead.

Four fouls — three on Central Michigan and one on Loyola — and a missed shot by Anderson ended the match in favor of the Ramblers.

Head coach Jon Sandoval said the first victory of the season feels like a reward for all of the team’s hard work. 

“It’s never easy to get the first in, but that’s what makes it special,” Sandoval said. “Winning on the road is hard, and they embraced that challenge today.”

The Ramblers continue their season at Hoyne Aug. 28 against the University of Iowa. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and is available to stream on ESPN+.