Box Score
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women's soccer team closed its regular-season schedule with a 2-0 loss to visiting Loyola Thursday night on a rain-soaked pitch at Arad McCutchan Stadium.  With the loss, the Purple Aces fell to the No. 5 seed for the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
 
Evansville (9-5-3, 2-3-1 MVC) was shut out for the fifth-straight match, as none of its 17 shots found their way by Loyola (6-8-5, 3-3-0 MVC) goalkeeper Monica Gonyo, who finished the night with seven saves.
 
The Aces managed to outshoot the Ramblers, 17-14, and put seven shots on target, but Loyola scored a pair of second-half goals to earn the victory.
 
In an evenly played first half, the Ramblers created the first real scoring chance of the evening in the 15th minute.  Sophomore goalkeeper Simone Busby made a diving save on an 15-yard attempt from the foot of Hailey Merrill, before making yet another brilliant save on a Tricia Stonebraker shot following the rebound.
 
UE's best chance of the night came with just over 16 minutes to play in the first half.  Senior Stephanie Thompson set up the chance with a corner kick from the right wing, as the Ramblers were unable to make an initial clearance and the ball came free to the far post, where it sat just inches from the goal line.  However, just as sophomore Abby Springer was about to tap home a goal, Gonyo pounced on the ball to keep the contest tied at 0-0.
 
At halftime, the match remained scoreless with Evansville holding a 9-6 shot advantage and a 2-0 corner kick advantage.
 
The Ramblers took the lead in the 56th minute by taking advantage of a failed clearance by the Aces' defense.  Stonebraker took advantage of the miscue, as she fired an uncontested from the middle of the box by a diving Busby to put Loyola in front, 1-0.
 
In the 87th minute, the Ramblers were able to secure the win by adding an insurance goal, as Allison Shimer volleyed in a loose ball from three yards out inside the near post.
 
Springer led all players with five shot attempts and put four on goal, while Thompson finished the night with four shot attempts, including one on frame.  Busby finished the game with six saves.
 
With the loss and the results of the other two MVC matches conducted on the evening, the Aces fell to the No. 5 seed for the MVC Tournament and will travel to Springfield, Mo., to face No. 4 seed Missouri State in a quarterfinal match Sunday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m.