Washington, D.C --
Baylee DeSmit and
Asma Merzougui each scored in the first half on Wednesday, leading the Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team to a 2-1 win over host, American University, giving the Greyhounds a win in their regular season finale.
With the win and other results in the Patriot League, the Greyhounds clinched the third seed and will host the No. 6 seed, Colgate, on Sunday in the Patriot League Quarterfinals.
The Eagles (3-9-4 overall, 3-5-1 Patriot League) scored the first goal of the game, scoring in the 21st minute, as Abby Dillon got to the loose ball, and shot it in the top left corner.
The Greyhounds (11-5 overall, 6-3 Patriot League) didn't wait long to equalize however, as just one minute and 48 seconds later,
Elizabeth Gallagher sent a long ball to
Baylee DeSmit, who got behind the defense, and sent a shot to the low left corner for her 10th goal of the season.
From there, the Greyhounds held the momentum, as shots from
Olivia Quaranta and
Baylee DeSmit forced saves from the Eagles goalkeeper, as the score remained tied.
With the first half winding down, the Greyhounds had one last attack. After a pair of shots in the box that were saved and blocked, DeSmit found
Asma Merzougui in the middle of the box, as the sophomore buried the shot to the right of the goal, for her first career goal, as the Greyhounds took a 2-1 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Greyhounds remained aggressive on the offensive end, with their best look of the half coming in the 59th minute from
Elizabeth Gallagher, but the shot went just high.
From there, the Greyhounds managed to hold the majority of the possession, as they held the Eagles to just three shots over the last 30 minutes of game time. Despite a last push at a equalizer, the Greyhounds defense came up big, just like they have all season, as they shut down the Eagles offense for the 2-1 win.
With her eighth assist today,
Baylee DeSmit tied the Loyola women's soccer single-season record for assists in a season.
DeSmit added to her her Patriot League lead totals in goals (10), assists (8) and points (28). Gallagher recorded her fourth assist of the season, which is tied for sixth in the Patriot League.
The Greyhounds will host Colgate in the Quarterfinals of the Patriot League Championships on Sunday at 2 PM at Ridley Athletic Complex.
