Oct. 7, 2007

Final Stats

CHICAGO - Sophomore Cynthia Morote-Ariza netted her fourth goal of the week and tied a school record with her ninth of the season to give Loyola a 2-1 (OT) win over Illinois State this afternoon at Loyola Soccer Park. The win extended the Ramblers' program-best winning streak to six and improved the team's record to 8-5 on the year. Illinois State drops to 5-4-1 with the loss.

"I am very happy with the way we battled out there today and we were able to find a way to get the result," said head coach Frank Mateus. "Any time you play an in-state school, it is going to be a tough match. A lot of the kids are familiar with each other from high school and club soccer and it makes for a very competitive match."

Loyola had the two best opportunities in an opening half which saw Loyola have the better of possession. Jackie Vera had a terrific chance in the 11th minute, finding space inside the 18-yard box, but her shot was high and wide of the top corner. The Ramblers created another quality opportunity in the closing minutes, as Morote-Ariza was played in behind the ISU defense. However, Redbirds keeper Katie Grill-Donovan was up to the task with a nice save to keep it scoreless heading into halftime.

The Ramblers were finally able to dent the scoreboard early in the second half. Freshman Nikki Staton rifled in a cross for Alexia Murray, whose first shot was saved by Grill-Donovan but she was able to drive home the rebound for her second goal of the season after 52 minutes. Illinois State had the next good chance and it resulted in an equalizing goal. After winning the ball at the midfield line, the Redbirds played Shannon Duggan down the left wing and her cross was volleyed home nicely by Amanda Lauber to make it 1-1 in the 69th minute.

Loyola had two wonderful chances to end the game in the first overtime, both on the foot of Morote-Ariza. Just two minutes in, she, again, got behind the ISU back line where her chip over the onrushing keeper bounced and hit the bar before being cleared away. She had another chance in the dying seconds, as she received the ball from a short corner kick and lofted another ball towards the net that hit the top of the cross bar on its way out of play.

She would not be denied, however, as a beautiful ball from Murray send her in again and this time she was able to tap the ball into the empty net for the 104th-minute winner.

Morote-Ariza's nine goals this season give her another piece of the school's single-season record. She netted nine last season as well and also shares the mark with Melissa Eckerle (1996).

Loyola returns to action on Thursday night when it travels to Madison, Wis. to take on the Badgers in a 7 p.m. game.