Women’s Soccer Shuts Out DePaul in Rowdy Red Line Rivalry Matchup

The Loyola women’s soccer team defeated DePaul University 2-0 Aug. 24 in their annual Red Line Rivalry match. Third-year midfielder Maggie Schmidt and third-year forward and midfielder Zoe Hevey recorded both goals for the Ramblers. 

The match started strong for the Ramblers, with an early shot by fourth-year defender Emily Roberts batted away by a DePaul defender. A foul on third-year forward Jadyn Harris gave the Blue Demons a free kick, but graduate defender and midfielder Grace Menser couldn’t gain momentum against the wall of Loyola defenders. 

Fourth-year forward Molly Pistorius fired the ball towards the bottom right corner of the net, but it was scooped up by third-year Blue Demon goalkeeper Mason Hillery. A foul was called on Schmidt, but the Blue Demon couldn’t keep possession. 

The 11th minute brought fouls on Roberts and Blue Demon fourth-year midfielder Nahla Dominguez. Hevey followed with a shot on goal for the Ramblers, but it was saved by Hillery. 

A corner kick was awarded to the Blue Demons in the 16th minute, but first-year defender Abby Sudkamp headed the kick out. Another corner for DePaul was headed away by second-year defender Catherine Cline and taken by Dominguez, whose shot went over the crossbar.

During the corner in the 19th minute, DePaul redshirt second-year forward Tessa Fagerson ran into redshirt second-year goalkeeper Allison Deardorff, sending the goalkeeper tumbling. Fagerson received a yellow card for unsporting. Deardorff was checked for injuries and was ultimately allowed to continue playing.

In the 30th minute, two offside calls and a foul called on Cline gave the Blue Demons a chance at the goal, but shots from third-year midfielder Shayna da Silva and second-year midfielder Mia Veldman couldn’t find the net. 

A shot from redshirt second-year forward Emily Rossi soared over the crossbar. Two minutes later, a shot from DePaul third-year midfielder Danielle Fjeldsted missed to the right. 

Loyola was awarded a corner kick, but time ran out before the Ramblers could capitalize, ending the first half in a 0-0 tie. 

Head coach Jon Sandoval said the team needed to work on opening up their chances for goals in the first half. 

“I’m hoping we understand that we must come out with more energy and execution from the first whistle,” Sandoval said. “I’m proud of how the group responded in the second half, but perhaps down the road we may not have that chance.”

The second half started with a Loyola corner kick, which was snagged by Hillery. A corner for the Blue Demons was headed out by a Rambler defender. A foul in the 51st minute on Hevey gave the Blue Demons the ball, but Loyola was quick to get it back.

Schmidt stole the ball off a scramble in the Blue Demon side of the field, and her shot soared into the top left corner of the net, giving the Ramblers a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute. 

Hevey’s shot a minute later was batted away by Hillery, earning a corner kick, which gave the Ramblers a chance at widening their lead, but it was headed away by a DePaul defender. 

Two more fouls on DePaul — one on third-year forward Mya Gardner and the other on second-year midfielder and forward Katelyn Jamie — gave the Ramblers possession again. 

In the 59th minute, off an out-of-bounds call on DePaul, Roberts threw the ball in, and it was headed into scoring distance by Pistorius. Hevey got a handle on the ball, and her shot made contact with the back of the net, bringing the Rambler lead to 2-0.

Three subsequent fouls on Hevey, Harris and graduate midfielder and forward Mia Lanni gave the ball over to the Blue Demons for a couple minutes, but Deardorff dove on a shot by graduate forward Sienna Gonzales to end the attack. 

Fourth-year midfielder and forward Angelina Perritano received a yellow card for unsporting in the 74th minute after a hard shove to a DePaul defender. Gonzales attempted another shot on goal, but Deardorff saved it. 

Back-to-back yellow cards were handed out to da Silva and Gonzales for unsporting in the 82nd minute — both were physical shoves to Loyola defenders. A Loyola corner kick ended the second half, giving the Ramblers their win against DePaul 2-0. 

Sandoval said he was proud of the way the team finished the match and the overall performance of his players. 

“Our players attacked the ball and it ultimately led to a really great goal from Schmidt, and then another set piece opportunity that we worked on during the week,” Sandoval said. “Simply put, we decided to play with more of an edge and sharpness than the way we showed up in the first 45.”

The Ramblers’ travel to Normal, Ill. for their next matchup against Illinois State Sep. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.