Southern Illinois University
Loyola University Chicago
Five Things to Know: Salukis at Loyola
03/26/2021 | 3:20:00 | Women's Soccer
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois' women's soccer team travels to Chicago to challenge reigning MVC Champion Loyola Ramblers on Sunday, March 28 at 11am at Loyola Soccer Park. The match will be available to view on ESPN+ and live stats are available here.
1. LOOKING AT LAST WEEK: Back at home last Sunday, the Salukis fell to Northern Iowa, 0-5, giving up their first goal in two weeks. Sophomore keeper Dariana Mihalache saw the field for the first time this season, recording four saves in her 68 minutes of action. Goaltender Nicole Raventos took over the job with 24 minutes left on the clock to give herself an additional four saves. On the attack, On the attack, forward Kaitlin DuCharme gave the Salukis a shot-on-goal in the left corner, with additional shots taken to the Panther's goal by Emma Spotak and Madison Meiring.
2. SCOUTING LOYOLA: Coming off of a 5-1 win to Indiana State in Terre Haute on Wednesday, the Ramblers are the Valley's lone undefeated team in conference action this season (5-0-1). Loyola drew to Missouri State, scoreless in double-overtime in their first match of the regular season. The Ramblers completed three shutouts to Drake, Northern Iowa, and Valparaiso by goaltenders Maddie Hausmann and Grace Droessler. Offensively, Loyola has midfielder/forward Megan Nemec, who leads the Ramblers this season in points (1G, 4A), from seeing action is all six games.
Defeating Illinois State 2-0 for the 2019 Missouri Valley title, Loyola garnered a perfect conference record (7-0) and over .500 record in the 2019 season. The Rambles lost to Hofstra in the first round of the NCAA tournament in November. Loyola sees the loss of seniors Aleksa Tataryn (7G, 1A) and Simone Wark (5G, 5A), while retaining MVC Preseason First-Team members Nemec, midfielders Abby Swanson and Lindsey Hardiman and favored in the conference in the MVC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving eight of the nine first place votes.
3. MOVING AROUND: In showcasing the team's flexibility and adaptability to the opponent, this 2020-21 squad has moved in some position changes. Juniors Kailyn Stone and Maya Warrior have moved forward to score goals for the Salukis -- Warrior recording six shots and a shot-on-goal this year. While junior Hailey Blanchard and sophomore Emma Spotak have been utilities for SIU. Blanchard moved in at attack for Southern in the team's first three matches, while Spotak was in back. Both flipped thus far, as Spotak has recorded multiple shots for the Salukis on and Blanchard made prominent blocks in the Saluki box.
4. SALUKI LEADERS: As the League's leading shooting defender, Kathryn Creedon ties for sixth in the MVC, bringing in seven shots-on-goals in the Salukis' six games in 2021. Sophomore forward Kaitlin DuCharme is sixth in the book in shots this season, shooting 15 times towards the net, averaging 2.5 shots a game. Keeper Maddy Alaluf is ranked second in the MVC in shutouts, recording three in her five games played for the Salukis. Alaluf hasn't let a goal past her since March 5 against Indiana State.
5. SPRING SOCCER: Due to COVID-19, the traditional fall soccer season was postponed into a spring format. Southern Illinois will play its first season of conference soccer as new joining members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Along with the eight-game conference schedule, the Salukis played one non-conference contest against Western Kentucky. The MVC Women's Soccer Tournament begins April 11. The NCAA Division I Women's College Cup will begin May 13.
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