Sept. 17, 2016
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette women's soccer team got on the league scoreboard on Saturday afternoon, working a 1-1 draw with Loyola at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium to earn a point in the conference standings.
Sophomore Alex Stanford score the lone goal for the Maroon and White, while senior Danielle Sedillo and junior Kelly O'Brien were excellent in net throughout the game to keep it at 1-1 throughout the second half and overtime. Each goalkeeper came up with four saves on the afternoon.
"The first half was a little nervy as expected, but I thought we played well in the second half and the two overtimes were really good, so overall a good start to league play," head coach Mick Statham said. "We're in a fortunate position to have two really good goalkeepers that are very supportive of each other. Kelly's done a brilliant job, particularly today, but I also think that Danielle has been very supportive and it's a great situation for me to watch."
As Statham stated, the game began nervously from both sides as the two teams tried to settle in, given the importance of the matchup. Loyola defeated Lafayette in an overtime game a year ago, ultimately leading to the Greyhounds advancing to the Patriot League Tournament just ahead of the Maroon and White.
The first real threatening offensive chance was the goal for Lafayette, coming in the 39th minute. A back pass from the Loyola defense to visiting goalkeeper Sumer Rahe was poached by senior Kaelin King, who blocked the clearance, setting up Stanford for a chance at an open goal with Rahe pulled out to the top right of her 18-yard box. Stanford curled a 30-yard shot into the right side of the net for the opening tally.
"The goal was actually harder than it looked," Statham added. "In the run of play, there's so much to do technically in that situation. Obviously great pressure from Kaelin to force the goalkeeper into a mistake, but Alex probably won't get enough credit for what she was able to do because that was way harder than she made it look."
Loyola didn't take long to respond, however, as it took just 1:59 to find an equalizer. Following a long service across the entire box from right to left, Casey McKenzie took an impressive first touch and fired a turnaround shot into the lower left corner to knot the game at one.
"Loyola's goal was taken very well," Statham said. "I thought her first touch was outstanding, and then the turn and finish really gave Danielle no chance. It was a quality goal."
The game moved into the break and, although no goals would be scored for the remaining 65 minutes, each team had a number of chances to earn two more points in the league standings. The first came from Lafayette in the 48th minute as senior Melissa Lynskey ran a counter-attack almost by herself, going the length of the field before feeding a through-ball to King down the center of the Loyola box. King's one-time shot was closed down nicely by Rahe and out of danger.
O'Brien was outstanding in the second half, coming up with game-saving stops in the 68th, 87th and 88th minutes. In the 68th and 88th, she stopped point-blank efforts with diving saves to her right, while the 87th-minute chance required a save on the near post from a close-in header off a cross.
Loyola registered the two best chances in the extra sessions, with the first coming in the 92nd minute off a corner. The original service was deflected to the opposite side by O'Brien, but the ball eventually fell to Mary Theresa Corcoran, whose effort sailed high over the crossbar.
The final opportunity took place with four minutes to go as Casey McKenzie found Corcoran with a cross in tight, a play that looked to be a definite goal. Instead, O'Brien read it beautifully and closed down Corcoran's close-in chance to keep the game alive and, ultimately, earn the side a draw.
Lafayette improves to 3-2-3 on the year overall and 0-0-1 in league play, while Loyola moves to 3-2-2 overall and 0-0-1 in conference action. Shots finished at 12-8 in favor of the visitors, while Loyola also led in corners, 9-5.
The Leopards hit the road for their next two contests, both against conference opponents. Lafayette travels to Army on Saturday for a 7 p.m. meeting with the Black Knights, followed by a matchup with Bucknell on Sept. 28, also at 7 p.m.
