BALTIMORE – Mia Sardella bent a corner kick over the heads of defense and inside the far post on Sunday afternoon, providing the eventual game-winner in the 17^th minute to lift Loyola University Maryland women's soccer to a 1-0 non-conference victory over Saint Francis University of Pennsylvania.
 
Sardella struck a corner that swung right-to-left and over the outstretched hands of Saint Francis goalkeeper Julian Hernan. It bounced at the goal line and inside the far post at 16:08, giving Loyola a 1-0 cushion over the two-time defending Northeast Conference Champions and NCAA College Cup participants.
 
From there, the Greyhounds' defense and goalkeeper Sumer Rahe held off any significant Saint Francis opportunities.
  Overall, the Red Flash (1-2-1 overall) had just three shots in the game, and only one in the second half. Rahe recorded the sixth clean sheet of her career.
 
Loyola (1-3-0), conversely, kept consistent pressure on Saint Francis. The Greyhounds had a season-high 14 shots, eight in the first half.

"I thought this win wast he culmination of a great team effort," said Head Coach Naomi Meiburger. "I was really happy for Mia to get that goal; she has worked so hard and really deserved it. We paid great attention to executing the details of our game plan on both ends of the field, and we kept pressure on them throughout."
 
Sarah Bayer and Julianna Cabrera had shots that were saved in the 25^th and 27^th minutes, and the Greyhounds nearly struck again off a corner. In the 33^rd minute, Nicole Rivas sent in a service that found the head of Kate Reese who put a shot on goal only to be saved by Hernan.
 
Ariel Tillman had a shot that was blocked in the 65^th minute, but it created a chance for Hannah Hoefs off the rebound, but Hernan turned that away. Ann-Kathrin had a dangerous sliding shot that went just over the crossbar in the 80^th minute, as well.
 
Rahe came up with a pair of saves, the first on a Heather Markiewicz attempt in the 41^st minute and later on a Dakota Graham shot in the 55^th.
 
Loyola is back in action on Friday, August 31, when it hosts Utah State University in a 6 p.m. match at Ridley Athletic Complex.