Women’s Soccer Battles Richmond to Scoreless Draw

Loyola women’s soccer tied 0-0 with the University of Richmond Oct. 12. The Ramblers showed constant offensive pressure, outshooting the Spiders 21-9.

At the start of the half, the Ramblers faced pressure in their defensive third as Richmond came out generating offensive opportunities. In the fourth minute, Richmond third-year defender Gwen Howell took a shot that drifted left and fell off target.

In the following minutes, Loyola’s defense held steady and generated offensive chances. In the 14th minute, Loyola third-year forward Zoe Hevey played a ball into fourth-year midfielder Angelina Perritano, whose shot was blocked by the Spiders’ backline.

The Ramblers continued to hold possession, creating multiple chances that tested Richmond’s defense. In the 19th minute, Loyola second-year defender Catherine Cline sent a cross to Loyola fourth-year forward Meghan Economos, who took a shot saved by Richmond second-year goalkeeper Veronica Rrapi.

By the 34th minute, the Ramblers’ offense continued to test the Spiders’ backline. Hevey took a shot blocked by Richmond’s defense, and Loyola first-year defender Abby Sudkamp played the ball back into the box, which was collected by Rrapi.

Towards the end of the first half, Richmond created their first offensive opportunities. In the 41st minute, Richmond fourth-year forward Anna Garcia took a shot outside the 18-yard box saved by Loyola redshirt sophomore Allison Deardorff.

The second half began with Loyola continuing to control possession and apply pressure. In the 46th minute, Loyola fourth-year forward Molly Pistorius took a shot off a cross from Hevey that fell off target.  

In the 51st minute, the Ramblers won a corner where Cline played a ball that stirred the Spiders’ box, but ultimately Rrapi came out to make the save. In the 53rd minute, Richmond responded, generating a counterattack that was shut down by the Ramblers’ backline.

Moments later, Richmond started to retain possession, putting pressure on the Ramblers’ backline. In the 66th minute, the Spiders were awarded a penalty after a handball was reviewed. Richmond second-year midfielder Paige West stepped up to take it, but Deardorff saved the shot, and Loyola second-year midfielder Lydia Case was there to clear the rebound. 

Within the next few minutes, the Ramblers kept possession in their attacking third, with third-year midfielder Ansley Cryan and third-year forward Jadyn Harris sending crosses in the box, punched out by Rrapi.

In the 77th minute, Case intercepted the ball in the Spiders’ defensive third and took a shot that went just wide for a corner after being blocked by Richmond’s defense. Cline stepped up to deliver the ball into the box where Sudkamp got on the end of it, but her header was saved by Rrapi.

In the final minutes, Loyola maintained aggressive possession, cycling the ball in their offensive third to find a late chance on goal. Perritano and Loyola redshirt sophomore Emily Rossi both took shots that barely went wide. The Ramblers were unable to break through, ending the game with a 0-0 draw. 

After a tough draw, head coach Jon Sandoval expressed his disappointment with not capitalizing on offensive opportunities.

“It doesn’t matter about the strategy if we are not executing in the final third,” Sandoval said. “Now we have to go on the road and play a really good Duquesne team. Hopefully we understand the magnitude of the situation, and hopefully, we are able to deal with the magnitude of the situation.”

The Ramblers continue Atlantic 10 play on the road to Pittsburgh, Pa. to play Duquesne University Oct. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.