2008 Woodie Awards
Women's soccer wins MAAC Championship, next stop NCAA's
Kat Kienle
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
| |
|
Assistant Sports Editor
In a season where expectations were yet again high, the Loyola women's soccer team certainly lived up to them. After falling short last year in a first-round Metro Athlantic Athletic Conference Tournament loss to Siena, the Hounds took care of business this season and advanced to their sixth NCAA Tournament in the last eight years.
"It is a great accomplishment to get back to the NCAA Tournament," head coach John Byford told Loyola Athletics. "I am so happy for the players, especially our seniors and juniors, who have been disappointed [with semifinals losses] in the last two years.
"We are looking forward to playing in the NCAA Tournament against whomever we draw."
The Greyhounds, who finished their regular season 8-5-5 overall, held both of their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament opponents scoreless last weekend in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
After beating Fairfield 2-0 on Friday, the Hounds took out Marist by the same score in the championship game on Sunday.
"This is a great victory for everyone," head coach John Byford said. "It's great for the coaches, it's great for the players, it's great for the school."
Loyola established an offensive dominance in the first half of the championship match, scoring two goals against the Red Foxes before intermission.
Meanwhile, the Greyhound defense remained supreme even though Marist was presented with several opportune chances around the net in the second half.
Loyola had a great chance to score in the game's opening minute on a shot by junior Lea Day and another by sophomore Colleen Kinealy in the 15th minute. They finally cracked through, however, at the 30:14 mark off the foot of Day.
Freshman Lina Staropoli set up the score with a perfect cross near the post where Day headed the ball in, giving the Greyhounds the 1-0 advantage.
One minute later, a Marist foul in the box allowed Loyola to further extend their lead. Sophomore Christina Gomez was granted a penalty kick, which she easily sent past Red Fox keeper Allison Lane, establishing the 2-0 score entering intermission.
"It's always a team effort," Gomez said. "The offense wouldn't be as good if we didn't get the ball from the defense, which is maintaining possession. We connected well like we have been doing this season."
While the Marist offense was a stronger force around the Loyola net in the second half, sophomore goaltender Brittany Henderson, who was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year earlier in the week and MVP of the tournament, anchored the defensive efforts in the backfield.
She recorded five saves while the defense posted their 10 th shutout of the year to clinch the win.
"She [Henderson] is a big game player," Byford said. "When you watch her she has a certain air of confidence about her that defies the other team. She's an outstanding goalkeeper."
The defense also registered a shutout in the 2-0 tournament semifinal victory against Fairfield on Friday, which gave the Greyhounds the championship berth.
While the Hounds' offense set up a scoring spree in the first half against Marist, the first half of play against Fairfield remained scoreless despite Loyola outshooting the Stags 7-4.
However, the Greyhounds set the temp entering the latter 45 minutes with junior Theresa Ferraina and Gomez both posting shots on goal that just nearly missed.
After a shot from Day missed in the 61st minute, Loyola was given another offensive chance when Fairfield committed a foul.
Gomez was able to head the ball to Kinealy, who then headed the ball past Fairfield keeper Brett Maron for the game's first goal.
While the Greyhounds had a 1-0 lead, Fairfield gave Loyola a scare in the 76th minute when Red Fox Alex Caram drilled a shot on the Greyhound net only to be blocked by a Henderson save.
Two Stag corner kicks followed, but Fairfield was unable to convert on either attempt.
The second missed corner kick resulted in Loyola gaining control. Senior Brynn McGrath took the ball to midfield and fed Gomez with a pass near the goal.
Gomez, presented with a one-on-one opportunity with Maron, drove the ball past the keeper for the 2-0 lead at the 77:38 mark.
That two-goal advantage was more than enough for the strong core of Loyola defenders, who prevented any significant threats on goal for the rest of regulation to notch the victory.
The two tournament wins over the weekend give the Greyhounds a 10-5-5 record along with their ninth conference championship title.
The Greyhounds will be back in action when the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament begin on Nov. 16 and 18.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show airs on ESPNews on Monday at 8 p.m.
"I just hope we will be going somewhere where it isn't snowing," Byford said, laughing. "Hopefully we might have a chance to make a little more history."
Be the first to comment on this story