THE MATCHUP
- The Greyhounds will continue their non-conference schedule as they will travel to face off against the #4 Virginia Cavaliers.
- This will be just the fourth matchup between the two programs, and the first matchup since the 2008 season.
Last Time Out
- The Greyhounds hosted the Drexel Dragons on Thursday night for their season opener. The Dragons got out to a quick start in the game, and the Greyhounds failed to catch up as they lost their home opener 3-1.
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Baylee DeSmit scored the lone goal for the Greyhounds off of a assist from
Olivia Quaranta.
Key Returners and Newcomers
- The Greyhounds will return a strong core from last years team, as there will be 9 members of the team that tallied at least 10 starts last season.
- This group is led by Preseason Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year,
Paige Sim, who started all 18 games last season.
- The Greyhounds also return
Sarah Mirr,
Chloe Kuminkoski,
Alex Searing, and
Gillian Borton who all also started all 18 games last season.
- Three of the top four scorers from last years team also return in
Baylee DeSmit (4 goals, 1 assist),
Sarah Mirr (3 goals, 3 assists), and
Ada Clare Tempert (3 goals, 1 assist).
- Other notable returners for the Greyhounds are seniors
MK Barnes, Lea Kristjansdottir, and junior
Kelly Hutton.
- On top of the deep returners for the Greyhounds, they also brought in a talented freshman class, as they brought in 5 freshman to bolster their roster, and also brought in sophomore transfer
Michaela Virgin, who comes to Loyola after a year at NC State.
Defense Wins
- The Greyhounds owned the top defensive team in the Patriot League in 2021 as they allowed just 1.01 goals per game.
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Paige Sim anchored the Greyhounds defense as she led the conference with a .809 save percentage on the season and also tallied 4.22 saves per game last season. Sim also tallied 7 shutouts on the season.
Scouting Virginia
- The Cavaliers finished the 2021 season with a 18-3-2 (8-0-2) record last season, which included a loss in the ACC Championship game, and a trip to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.
- Junior midfielder Lia Godfrey and senior forward Alexa Spaanstra were both named to the preseason All-ACC Team this season.
- Godfrey led the team with 12 assists, while also added 3 goals during the 2021 season, while Spaanstra was second on the team with 9 assists, and then was third on the team with 7 goals.
- The Cavaliers had the 15th best scoring offense in the country last season as they averaged 2.52 goals per game and were 7th in the country in goals against average with a .555.
- The Cavaliers hosted George Mason in their season opener on Thursday night where they won 3-1.
- The Cavaliers had three different goalscorers in their season opener.
Quick Notes Entering the Weekend
- This is the first matchup against Virginia in 14 seasons.
- This will be the 3rd ACC team the Greyhounds have faced since the beginning of the 2021 season (Clemson, Wake Forest).
- The Greyhounds were 2-1-2 last season coming off of a loss.
- Loyola's eight victories last season are the program's most since the 2012 team went 12-6-4 and advanced to the NCAA tournament. The Greyhounds' 18 points in Patriot League play were also their most since joining the conference.
- 15 returning players appeared in at least 10 games during the 2021 season, including seven of them that tallied over 1,000 game minutes (
Paige Sim,
Alex Searing,
Chloe Kuminkoski,
Sarah Mirr,
MK Barnes,
Gillian Borton, and
Baylee DeSmit)
- Five Loyola players combined for eight weekly Patriot League awards last season. Sim was a four-time Goalkeeper of the Week, while
Baylee DeSmit (Midfielder of the Week),
Kaleigh Gallagher (Offensive POW),
Elizabeth Gallagher (Rookie of the Week) and
MK Barnes (Defensive POW) were also recognized individually.
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Paige Sim was named the 2021 Goalkeeper of the Year and earned 1st Team All-Conference nods, as
Baylee DeSmit was named 2nd Team All-Conference, and Alex Searning named 3rd Team All-Conference following the 2021 season.
Recipes for Success
- The Greyhounds have won each of the last 12 games in which they have scored two goals or more, a streak which dates back to Sept. 6, 2018. Loyola was 4-0-0 in 2021 when scoring multiple goals this season.
- The Greyhounds were 8-0-2 when scoring first and 6-0-1 when leading at halftime during the 2021 season.
What's Next
- The Greyhounds will travel to face the Rice Owls on Thursday night in Houston, TX. Following the trip to Texas, the Greyhounds will be back at home as they will host Youngstown State.
- The game against Youngstown State will be the start of the Greyhounds 5 straight home matches.
- Following Youngstown State, the Greyhounds will host Columbia, Kent State, Howard, and Wake Forest before they begin Patriot League play against Colgate.
More on Sim
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Paige Sim played 1,690 out of a possible 1,701 minutes this season, and she tallied 5+ saves in nine of her 18 appearances. She led the Patriot League in goals-against average (0.96), save percentage (.809) and shutouts (7) this fall.
- Sim was a first team All-Patriot League honoree during the 2021 season, was a thrid team All-Conference slection during the 2021 spring season and she was a second team selection following her freshman season in 2019.
- For her career, Sim is 17-10-10 with a 0.73 GAA, a .835 save percentage and 15 shutouts in 37 starts.
- Sims current ranks all-time at Loyola; in 5th in saves, 2nd in save percentage, 3rd in goals against average, 5th in wins, tied for 1st in ties, tied for 3rd in shutouts, tied for 5th in goalie games played and goalie games started, and 4th in goalie minutes played.
