Oct. 3, 2010
Final Stats
BALTIMORE - Nichole Schiro deflected a Lina Staropoli shot on an indirect free kick in the 30th minute to provide the only scoring in a 1-0 Loyola University Maryland women's soccer victory over Niagara University on Sunday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at Ridley Athletic Complex.
With a Loyola (5-6-2 overall, 1-1-0 MAAC) offensive player rushing toward the ball, a Purple Eagles defender touched a pass back to goalkeeper Ashleigh Bowers who picked it up.
The referee whistled Niagara (5-4-1, 0-2-0) for an illegal passback and pickup, awarding Loyola an indirect free kick from eight yards out.
Kelly Farrell touched the top of the ball, and Staropoli hit a thigh-high shot toward the goal. Schiro deflected the ball with her knee, sending it into the right corner of the goal to put Loyola on top, 1-0, 29:24 into the match.
Schiro's goal would stand up as Didi Haracic and Danielle Ippolito combined in goal to shutout the Purple Eagles.
"Didi and Danielle did a nice job today," Head Coach Katherine Vettori said. "Didi had to make a tough save in the first half, and Danielle had some in the second. We got good play from (center backs) Brittany Yancey and Maggie Ebner, and Lina Staropoli in the midfield to help the defense."
Haracic was challenged early as Jamie Raepple got free behind the Loyola defense. Raepple took the ball inside the 18 and hit a shot that Haracic made a sliding save against as she came out to cut down the angle in the 12th minute.
Loyola put together three chances quickly in the second half, looking to add to its lead. Alex Reed took a shot and Gianna Mangione attempted two, but one went wide and two were saved by Niagara's Ashleigh Bowers.
Schiro almost added to her goal tally in the 55th minute on a header off a Farrell corner kick that was saved by Bowers.
The Purple Eagles' best chance came in the 68th minute. Julianne Viviano hit a hard, rising shot from just outside the 18 and over the reach of Ippolito, The ball clanged off the crossbar, however, and Loyola's defense cleared it away.
Ippolito made three saves in the second half, and Haracic finished with one. Bowers made six for the Purple Eagles.
Loyola continues MAAC action on next Friday when it travels to Loudonville, N.Y., to face Siena at 4 p.m. The Greyhounds return to Ridley on Friday, October 15 for a 7 p.m. game against Fairfield. The game is Family Fun Day with fun, games, prizes and soccer action.
