The Matchup
- The Greyhounds begin the Postseason, as they will host the Colgate Raiders on Sunday for the Patriot League Quarterfinals.
- This will be the 15th matchup between the two programs, and the fourth meeting since the beginning of 2023.
- Last season, Loyola defeated Colgate, 4-0, in the regular season, before losing to the Raiders, 2-0, in the Quarterfinals at Ridley.
Quick Hits
- Baylee DeSmit has continued her run of play from 2023 into 2024, as she has 14 goals and four assists in 17 games this season.
- Their tie vs Hofstra was the Greyhounds first tie since October 12, 2022, where they tied with Bucknell, 0-0.
- Since the beginning of September, the Greyhounds are 5-3-5.
Greyhounds at Home
- The Greyhounds were dominant at home during the 2023 season, tallying a 9-2 record at Ridley last season.
- Over the last four seasons, Loyola has a 22-12-7 record at home, and are 5-2-3 at home this season.
- So far this season, Loyola has gone 5-2-3 at home, outscoring opponents 15-9 this season. Loyola has scored at least one goal in every home game this season, including a season-high three goals against Northern Colorado and Army.
- Nine wins at home last season is tied for the second most wins at home in a single-season, tying with 2005 when they finished 9-0 at home. The most wins at home came in 1996 when the Greyhounds went 11-0-1 at home.
Non-Conference Recap
- The Greyhounds finished a tough non-conference schedule with a 4-2-2 record, as they begin conference play against Boston.
- Loyola began the season with a tough 2-1 loss against Dayton, before bouncing back with two 1-0 wins against Longwood and George Washington.
- The Greyhounds then battled to a 1-0 loss to a top-ten regionally ranked Virginia Tech team on the road. Loyola kept them scoreless until the last ten minutes.
- After a bounce-back 3-1 win over Northern Colorado, the Greyhounds battled to back-to-back 1-1 draws against Hofstra and Wagner.
- Loyola finished non-conference play on a high note, as they gave Monmouth their first loss of the season, as they won 1-0. Coming into the game, Monmouth was ranked No. 10 in the East Region rankings according to the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
- Through non-conference play, Baylee DeSmit has six goals and two assists to lead the team in goals and points. Malia Tarazon leads the team with three assists.
Scouting Colgate
- The Raiders come into the matchup as the No. 5 seed and hold a 5-9-4 (3-3-3) record on the season and are coming off of a 1-1 tie to Holy Cross in their regular season finale.
- Ari Bezanson is tied with Baylee DeSmit for the Patriot League lead in goals (14) this season. Bezanson scored in the teams first matchup this season.
- Ellie Stokes is tied for the second most assists in the Patriot League (6) this season.
- In goal, Alli Popham has started in 10 games this season, tallying 58 saves, a .773 save percentage, and a 1.62 goals against average. Ella Poppinga has started in 8 games, tallying 16 saves, a .533 save percentage, and a 1.87 goals against average. Both goalies played in the first meeting this season, but Popham allowed the lone Loyola goal in the second half.
- Bezanson (First), Olivia Anderson (First), and Ellie Stokes (Second) all earned All-Patriot League Honors.
Quick Notes
- The 2024 season will be the 14th season the Greyhounds have been in the Patriot League, going 33-45-23 during that span, reaching the Patriot League Championships in five straight seasons, which includes two trips to the Patriot League Semifinals.
- This is Head Coach Joe Mallia's second stint at the helm with the Greyhounds. During his first stint, Mallia went 87-45-9 (54-4-5, MAAC), Winning the MAAC Regular-Season Championship four times, and the MAAC Tournament Championship three times.
- In his four season's back at the helm, Mallia has gone 39-32-18.
- The Greyhounds have gone 65-45-20 at home since the opening of Ridley Athletic Complex.
- Five ties this season ties a program high, which also happened in 2007 and 2015.
Recipe for Success
- The Greyhounds are 7-1-3 this season when they score the first goal.
- Seven different players have recorded at least one assist so far this season, including three players with at least three assists each.
- The Greyhounds have won 26 of the last 30 games in which they have scored two goals or more, which dates back to Sept. 6, 2018. Loyola is 4-1 when scoring multiple goals this season.
- The Greyhounds are 29-2-5 when scoring first and 20-1-1 when leading at halftime since the beginning of the 2021 season.
- Loyola has been a second half team this season, as they are 4-3-3 when tied at halftime.
More on DeSmit
- Baylee DeSmit had a monster year for Loyola, as she led the Patriot League in goals and points, while finishing second in assists.
- She also tied the single-season record for assists with 8, tying with seven other players to reach the single-season mark.
- Her 10 goals also ranks tied for eighth for most goals in a single-season.
- DeSmit has also slowly climbed the Loyola all time ranks, as she enters the 2024 season in the top ten in points, goals, and assists.
- So far in 2024, DeSmit leads the Patriot League in goals (14) and points (32).
- DeSmit's current ranks all-time at Loyola:
Career:
Points: 88 (3rd)
Goals: 34 (2nd)
Assists: 20 (3rd)
Points Per Game: 1.25 (3rd)
Goals Per Game: .485 (3rd)
Assists Per Game: .301 (4th)
Game-Winning Goals: 12 (3rd)
Single-Season (2024):
Points: 32 (3rd)
Goals: 14 (4th)
Points Per Game: 1.93 (2nd)
Goals Per Game: .866 (2nd)
