Women’s Soccer Defeats Illinois State in Second Home Victory of the Year 

Loyola women’s soccer continued their home winning streak Aug. 30 when they defeated the Illinois State University Redbirds 2-0. Fourth-year midfielder Maggie Schmidt and first-year defender Sarah Collins led the Ramblers’ offence, each netting a goal, while Illinois State graduate goalkeeper Madi Valenti led the defense with two saves for the Redbirds.

Shortly following kickoff, second-year midfielder Josslyn Weissman made Loyola’s first shot on goal with Valenti making the save for the Redbirds. The following six minutes saw a foul each on Weissman and second-year midfielder Mary Fornelli. Starting in the fifth minute, shot after shot was attempted by fourth-year forward and midfielder Zoe Hevey, fifth-year defender Emily Roberts and fourth-year midfielder Ansley Cryan, but Valenti prevented all three shots.

In the 12th minute, Illinois State took the ball over to Rambler territory. A shot by Redbirds’ second-year forward Rylann Law fell wide on the left, and a shot by second-year defender Grace Petrie went over the top, Weissman fouled again before the Redbirds continued their offensive drive.

Fourth-year goalkeeper Allison Deardorff was put to the test in the 16th minute as the Redbirds hovered around the goal, trying to get a shot in the net. After a shot by Redbird second-year defender Sosi Dadekian was denied by Deardorff, Illinois State was awarded a corner kick. When fourth-year forward Aniya Seymore made her shot, the ball went out to the right of the net.

In the 21st minute, Illinois State was awarded a corner kick, which led to a foul on Seymore. One minute later, fourth-year defender Mikayla Carkhuff sent a drive to the bottom center of the goal, but it was swiftly stopped by Deardorff. 

After trading fouls, Loyola took the ball back into Redbird territory in the 32nd minute where fourth-year defender Skyler Bierker and Hevey had back-to-back attempts. Following one more Illinois State substitution, the two teams once again traded multiple fouls before the end of the half. With multiple unsuccessful shots on goal from either side, Illinois State and Loyola marched into the half scoreless.

Entering the second half, Loyola fought to keep the ball within Illinois State’s box for several minutes. Fifth-year defender Olivia Beam was the first to take a shot for the Ramblers in the second half. In the 52nd minute, third-year midfielder Lydia Case fired another shot on the Redbird’s goal, but it sailed over the top right corner of the post. 

In the next minute, Schmidt and Seymore each were fouled. Loyola was then awarded a corner kick in the 59th minute, which the team was able to convert into another shot on goal by Weissman. 

Following another foul issued on Carkhuff in the 61st minute, the Redbirds committed three fouls — third-year midfielder Maggie Dowling, first-year forward Bailey Leach and third-year midfielder Molly Hughes. 

In the 73rd minute, after a foul on Hughes, fifth-year forward and midfielder Mia Lanni held the ball and crossed it over to Collins, who kicked the ball into the net, earning Loyola their first goal.

Shortly thereafter, Illinois State tried to return the move with third-year midfielder Maggie Fowling firing a shot at the Ramblers’ goal, but it sailed over the top. In the next minute, Bierker  earned herself a yellow card. 

Hughes attempted another shot on goal for the Redbirds, but after the unsuccessful attempt, the Ramblers regained possession and began another strong run to break through Illinois State’s defense. After two shots by Cryan in the 80th and 83rd minute, the Redbirds were awarded a corner kick, which Loyola quickly undermined.

One minute later, Schmidt drove the ball past the Redbirds’ Valenti to record the Ramblers’ second and game-winning goal with an assist from first-year midfielder and forward Addison Schaffer.

After kicking up the score one last time, Loyola’s offense took their foot off the gas, and Illinois State wasn’t able to power back, allowing the Ramblers to take home the victory with a final score of 2-0. 

Head coach Jon Sandoval said the energy was too low in the first 20 minutes, but the team remembered the game plan and touted Collins’ gameplay.

“Sometimes that is expected when you have eight days off,” Sandoval said. “Collins was cold, didn’t get to warm-up, came into the game and stepped up huge. She trains like that every day, and she was prepared for the moment.” 

The Ramblers travel to Evanston, Ill. to face off against Northwestern University Sept. 3. Kickoff is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on the Big Ten Network.