Sept. 3, 2006

Box Score

CHARLESTON, ILL. - After winning three consecutive one-goal decisions to start the 2006 season, it finally went the other way for Loyola as Eastern Illinois' Rachel Hamilton scored in the 106th minute to give the Panthers a 2-1 (OT) win over the Ramblers this afternoon in Charleston, Ill.

"I was very pleased with how we played in the first half and not so pleased with the rest of the match," said head coach Frank Mateus. "We played very well in the opening 45 minutes, dictating play and doing some nice things but we were unable to finish in the offensive-third of the field all day. I give all the credit to Eastern Illinois. Once they scored in the second half to tie it up, we knew it was going to be another one-goal game and they earned the win today. They forced us to give up a lot of corners and we finally got hurt by one."

Loyola got on the board late in the first half, courtesy of junior Laura Heidenreich. Nice play from Amanda Ward and Anne Sommer resulted in the ball going to Heidenreich, whose blast from the right banked in off the far post for her first goal of the season to give the Ramblers a 1-0 lead after 39 minutes. Eastern Illinois came out of the halftime break with renewed energy and its work was rewarded less than five minutes into the second half, when Kellie Floyd scored her first of the season to tie the game at 1-all after 50 minutes. The Ramblers had a golden opportunity in the latter stages of the second half after a foul in the box gave them a penalty, but Panthers keeper Jenny Williams was up to the task and the match remained tied until Hamilton's late winner.

Senior keeper Emily Peick made a season-high eight saves to keep the Ramblers in it, however, they enjoyed a 13-12 edge in shots for the day. However, Eastern Illinois enjoyed a sizeable 11-1 edge in corner kicks.

Loyola road swing continues on Tuesday (Sept. 5) when it plays its third road match in five days at Purdue. Kick-off from West Lafayette, Ind. is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.