Ramblers Clinch Postseason with 0-0 Draw Against Billikens

Loyola women’s soccer came to a 0-0 draw Oct. 26 against Saint Louis University. Redshirt second-year goalkeeper Allison Deardorff led the defense with eight saves for her ninth shutout of the season. 

The match started with back-to-back shots by Billiken’s fourth-year forward Rylee Howard, both of which were saved by Deardorff. A shot by redshirt second-year forward Emily Rossi in the sixth minute veered right of the goal. 

Fouls were called on second-year midfielder Lydia Case and third-year forward Jadyn Harris, as well as Saint Louis’ first-year midfielder and forward Caroline Chier. Chier followed it up, receiving a yellow card for unsporting in the 10th minute. 

The Billikens were awarded a corner in the 13th minute off a defensive block, which resulted in a shot by Saint Louis’ graduate midfielder and forward Hannah Larson, but it was off-target. A corner for Loyola in the 16th minute was blocked by a Billiken defender. 

A shot by Larson was caught by Deardoff in the 18th minute, and shots from second-year Billiken midfielder Ashley Miller and redshirt fourth-year forward and midfielder Julia Simon both soared over the crossbar. 

Saint Louis’ fourth-year defender Izzy Luebbert received a yellow card for unsporting in the 31st minute, and a foul on first-year midfielder Mary Fornelli gave possession to the Billikens, but they couldn’t gain momentum. 

Three consecutive corners were awarded to Saint Louis in the 39th minute The first resulted in a missed shot by redshirt second-year Billikens forward and midfielder Lucie Schwartz, the second ended in a blocked shot from Saint Louis’ fourth-year midfielder Ellie Paloucek and the third was blocked by a Loyola defender. 

The half ended after an offside call against Saint Louis in the 43rd minute, which the Ramblers couldn’t capitalize on.

The second half began with a Saint Louis corner kick, which led to a shot by Chier that was snagged by Deardorff. A shot by Howard two minutes later was blocked again by Deardorff. 

First-year defender Abby Sudkamp and Larson traded fouls, and an offside call on Saint Louis handed the ball over to Loyola. A shot by Harris in the 68th minute was saved by the Billikens’ second-year goalkeeper Emma Parker. 

A corner was awarded to the Billikens in the 71st minute, but it was blocked by Loyola defenders. After a foul on Miller, a shot by Schwartz to the center of the net was caught by Deardorff. 

Harris received a foul call in the 75th minute, and the resulting possession for Saint Louis was turned over by another offside call in the 80th minute. A minute later, the Billikens were awarded a corner, and the kick was stolen, resulting in a shot by third-year forward Zoe Hevey, which rebounded back to Saint Louis. 

Billikens’ second-year forward Hope Kim took this opportunity for a shot to the top right corner, but Deardorff knocked it away. 

In the 82nd minute, Loyola was awarded a corner, which was deflected by a Billiken defender. Three minutes later, a corner for Saint Louis resulted in a shot by Billikens’ first-year defender Blakely Hockett which veered right of the goal. 

Fornelli was awarded a yellow card in the 88th minute for unsporting, and the match ended with a shot by Chier which soared right, ending the match in a 0-0 draw. 

The Ramblers will start postseason play in a rematch on the road against Saint Louis Nov. 1. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.