Women’s Soccer Takes First Loss at Home Against UMass

The Loyola women’s soccer team suffered their first loss at Hoyne Field this season in a 2-0 defeat to University of Massachusetts Amherst. Hoyne was packed with past and present Ramblers for the Alumni Weekend showcase. 

Loyola had maintained the longest undefeated streak at Hoyne since 2021. 

The match opened with an attempted cross from the Minutewomen in the second minute, which was deflected off second-year forward Jadyn Harris and a UMass player for a Loyola goal kick. 

In the third minute, possession switched rapidly to Loyola and third-year midfielder Faith Grisdale dribbled near UMass’ box and attempted a cross. Her cross was received by UMass graduate forward Karina Groff, but the ball went well over the net. 

The first of three offsides in the game was called three minutes in against the Minutewomen. 

The Ramblers had their first corner kick in the 13th minute, which was cleared by UMass after a header from fourth-year defender Ava Metaj. 

UMass had two free kick opportunities in the 24th minute due to a Loyola foul, but were unable to move past the Rambler midfield. 

The Minutewomen went on to score their first of two goals in the 29th minute, when a ball was deflected off Rambler defenders in the Loyola box, creating a scramble in the box. Redshirt first-year goalkeeper Allison Deardorff was on the ground attempting to get the ball, but UMass fourth-year forward Bella Recinos got to it first and smashed it into the back of the net. 

In the 35th minute, Loyola had a near opportunity after the ball bounced off the right post. First-year forward Jocelyn Leigh grabbed the deflection and shot, but the ball rose over the net. 

The first half ended with a cross by redshirt first-year forward Emily Rossi, which was caught by redshirt first-year UMass goalkeeper Bella Mendoza. 

Possession remained fairly even in the first half, with the Minutewomen maintaining 56%. 

During the second half, the Rambler defense managed to stay steady, even with UMass’ constant pressure from third-year defender Juliana Ryan managing to dribble up the field several times. 

UMass’ second corner of the game in the 51st minute was played short and quickly followed by a cross. After several attempts to clear the ball through pressure by first-year Minutewoman forward Amelia Bloom, the Ramblers finally managed to clear it out of their box. 

A through ball from Ryan during the 57th minute led to a scramble in the box, which was cleared by graduate defender Alaina Abel. 

A penalty was called on first-year defender Roos van Roekel with 11 minutes remaining after a deflection was called a handball inside the box. Minutewoman graduate midfielder Ella Curry took the penalty kick, but the ball went wide right of goal and out. 

In the 87th minute, UMass secured their second goal of the match off the efforts of first-year forward Caroline Dickson. After jumpstarting a UMass counter off a Loyola freekick, Dickson broke through the Ramblers’ backline and dribbled into the open space with Abel closing in behind. 

Dickson went on to slot the ball behind Deardorff in the one-on-one encounter, giving UMass a 2-0 lead. 

The Ramblers attempted to push the ball forward, but UMass remained vigilant as time was called, marking the Ramblers first defeat at home this season.

Interim head coach Angela Staveskie attributed the Minutewomen’s success with through balls as a major factor of the game.

“We could have connected in front of their back line a little bit more,” Staveskie said. “If we could have connected a few more passes and we’re a little bit more patient, we could have generated a few more chances and got those shots.” 

Loyola had four total shots, the lowest this season, during the game compared to UMass’ 12, with none of them on target.  

Staveski said the message going into practice this week is not to force things, and to trust the process. 

“We were getting in moments where we were trying to do too much,” Staveskie said. “I’m confident that we’ll regroup, we’ll watch it, and we’ll see and we’ll get more shots in the next one.” 

Loyola will be travelling to play the University of Rhode Island Oct. 24. The match kicks off at 6 p.m.