Women’s Soccer Shuts Out Eastern Illinois in Home Opener

The Loyola women’s soccer team defeated Eastern Illinois University 4-0 in their first game of the season Aug 15. All four goals scored were from Ramblers playing in their first collegiate match. 

The Ramblers controlled the ball with 60% possession during the match and recorded 22 total shots with nine on target while the Panthers managed just five total and one on target. 

Second-year midfielder Maggie Schmidt recorded the first shot of the night in the third minute, which went above the net and out of bounds. Both teams were called for offsides in the fifth and sixth minutes before second-year Panther forward Alex Tetteh attempted back-to-back shots.

Fourth-year defender Kenedi Jones and second-year forward Zoey Hevey added to the shot total. In the 13th minute, Hevey found second-year forward Emily Rossi, who launched it into the back of the net to put the Ramblers up by one.  

Hevey found another opportunity to play through the Panther defense, but couldn’t capitalize after the ball was saved by Panther redshirt second-year goalkeeper Ashlyn Hoover. A defensive foul called on Jones gave first-year Panther midfielder Ella Dwyer a free-kick which was caught by second-year goalkeeper Allison Deardorff. 

Loyola made their first substitution of the night when they brought in first-year defender and former Gatorade Player of the Year Roos van Roekel and first-year midfielder Olivia Anderson. Anderson started her shift on the pitch with a wide shot in the 30th minute. 

Just two minutes later, another Loyola substitution introduced first-year forward Jocelyn Leigh to the match. Following four uneventful minutes, third-year defender Emily Roberts stepped onto the pitch to replace second-year midfielder Ansley Cryan. 

Interim head coach Angela Staveskie said the many substitutions during the game allowed her to see the dynamics of different groups of players and helped players get comfortable being on the pitch early in the season. 

Van Roekel took a shot off a 29th minute corner kick which went wide-right of the net. The last action of the half occurred when graduate defender Alaina Abel headed the ball out of bounds with a header after another corner kick, ending the half with the Ramblers ahead 1-0. 

Loyola started the second half with three consecutive corner kicks before a yellow card was called on Panthers first-year defender Casey Kittridge. Rossi was given the free-kick and converted her second goal of the night at the 50th minute mark. 

Rossi, who missed all of last season due to an injury, said she was excited to be back on the field and help contribute to the Ramblers’ opening night success.

“Finally being back for a real game, it just feels super awesome to just get back and score a couple goals,” Rossi said. “It feels pretty nice.”

Following Rossi’s goal, Loyola subbed Leigh, van Roekel, Anderson and Roberts back into the match. Leigh received a pass from Hevey which went out of bounds. Second-year defender Skyler Bierker took a shot off a corner kick that went way to the right of the net and was caught by Hoover. 

In the 74th minute, Hevey sent a pass to Leigh who kicked it into the net and gave the Ramblers a 3-0 lead.

Six minutes later, third-year forward Ella Skelton, who had just subbed into the game for Hevey, assisted first-year midfielder Lydia Case for the final Rambler goal of the night, bringing the score to 4-0. With just under two minutes remaining in the match, third-year midfielder Corissa Koontz was given a yellow card. 

As the 90-minute buzzer rang, the Ramblers swarmed the field to celebrate their first win of the season. The recently promoted Staveskie earned her first official win as head coach.

She said despite the personnel changes the team underwent, the Ramblers have stayed grounded and being focused on the game. 

“Our goal from the start is just taking everything one step at a time, one day at a time and leaning into one another,” Staveskie said. “It just starts with being where your feet are, appreciating the moment. And, you know, they are doing just that. They’re leaning into that. Tonight’s about enjoying it with their families and tomorrow is about recovery.” 

The Ramblers continue their season on the road against Purdue University Thursday, Aug. 22. Kick off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and broadcasting information has yet to be released.