Women’s Soccer Ties La Salle in Home Conference Matchup

Loyola women’s soccer came to a 1-1 draw at home in the second conference matchup against La Salle University Sept. 24. Second-year midfielder Mary Fornelli scored her first career goal for the Ramblers while Explorers first-year forward and midfielder Shiloh Moore scored for La Salle. 

The first half picked up in the 16th minute when La Salle third-year forward Kameron Rase was called on a foul before third-year defender Catherine Cline and fourth-year midfielder Maggie Schmidt both missed their shots. 

Explorers’ third-year defender Bri Lewis and third-year midfielder Lydia Case traded fouls, then Case’s shot in the 21st minute sailed past the woodwork. An offside call in the 22nd minute for Loyola gave La Salle possession, but they couldn’t capitalize. 

In the 27th minute, fifth-year forward and midfielder Mia Lanni’s shot soared over the net before Schmidt was called on a foul. A minute later, Moore and La Salle’s graduate forward Justyce Hollenbach took back-to-back shots, both of which were off-target. 

In the same minute, first-year midfielder and forward Addison Schaffer took a shot to the bottom center of the net, but it was saved by Explorers third-year goalkeeper Samantha Widnick. A foul was called on La Salle second-year forward Kayden Williams in the 31st minute, leading to a wide-right shot by first-year defender Sarah Collins. 

Three consecutive shots by the Ramblers occurred in the next two minutes — one from Schaffer and two by fourth-year forward and midfielder Zoe Hevey — and all were saved by Widnick.

Fornelli took a shot in the 38th minute, but it was blocked by Widnick. Fouls were called on Case, first-year midfielder Ana Sofia Mrotzek and La Salle third-year forward and midfielder Alexis Garcia. 

Another shot attempt by Case and a foul on Explorers third-year midfielder Ella Cadigan closed out the scoreless half. 

The Ramblers broke through early in the second half when Schmidt maintained control of the ball and found Hevey for a pass. Hevey beat her defender and sent a low cross in the six-yard box where Fornelli finished the play, giving Loyola a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute. 

A minute later, Moore’s shot went far to the left of the net and La Salle was awarded a corner kick. Another shot by Moore during the corner missed the goal, and the Explorers received another unsuccessful corner in the 52nd minute. 

Hollenbach took a shot at the center of the goal in the 57th minute, but fourth-year goalkeeper Allison Deardorff deflected the ball. A shot by Lanni — saved by Widnick — in the 60th minute was sandwiched between fouls on La Salle third-year defender and midfielder Kennedy Erdman and La Salle fourth-year defender Rylee Henson.

In the 64th minute, the entire La Salle team received a yellow card for unsporting. In that same minute, the Ramblers were awarded a corner kick, but it resulted in a foul on Fornelli. Mrotzek and Cline tallied fouls in the 68th and 72nd minute, respectively, before Hollenbach’s shot soared over the left of the net in the 73rd minute. 

Explorers third-year defender and midfielder Taylor Jourdanais, Hollenbach and Case all got called on fouls before Hollenbach took a shot in the 82nd minute that was saved by Deardorff. 

The trio of Schmidt, Hevey and Fornelli accounted for seven of Loyola’s 14 shots with three finding the target and forcing La Salle’s defense to stay on its heels. Schaffer also made an impact, putting all three of her shots on target. Loyola continued to push forward as the clock wound down looking to extend its advantage and put the game out of reach.  

With just three minutes remaining, Moore delivered the equalizer, breaking through Loyola’s defense and bringing the Explorers level at one. The late goal completely shifted the momentum of the game, turning what looked like a Loyola victory into a frantic finish.  

The Ramblers pushed for a final answer before the whistle, but La Salle held on to secure the draw. Loyola left the field with a point, but the late equalizer made sure the final minutes were anything but quiet. 

Head Coach Jon Sandoval said it was a rough way to end the match. 

“I thought we battled hard but once we scored, we lost our footing a bit,” Sandoval said. “La Salle put us under pressure in the last 10 minutes, and we need to execute better in those moments in order to earn all three points.”

The Ramblers continue home conference play against the University of Dayton Sept. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the match can be streamed on ESPN+.