Baltimore --
Baylee DeSmit scored two goals and a assist, while
Olivia Quaranta scored on a header, as the Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team picked up the 3-0 win over Colgate University to advance to the Patriot League Semifinals.
Baylee DeSmit opened the scoring in the 15th minute of the game, as
Malia Tarazon intercepted the ball from Colgate, before passing to
Asma Merzougui, who's ball found DeSmit behind the defense, as she chipped the ball over the goalkeeper, as the Greyhounds (8-5-5 overall, 3-3-3 Patriot League) took the early 1-0 lead.
Loyola continued to apply the pressure, as they maintained the momentum in the first half. Quaranta would add the Greyhounds second goal of the game off of a corner kick, as she headed in the ball from DeSmit, to make it a 2-0 lead, as they held the lead into halftime.
Coming out of halftime, Loyola continued their momentum in the first half, as DeSmit ran onto a errant pass from Colgate, as she forced a Colgate save, but headed in the rebound, as the Greyhounds took the 3-0 lead in the 49th minute.
The Greyhounds defense was lockdown on Sunday, as they held the Raiders (5-10-4 overall, 3-3-3 Patriot League) to just one shot on goal, which came in the 86th minute, that
Brigid Mulholland cleaned up.
With the win, the Greyhounds advance to their third Patriot League Semifinals over the last six seasons. The Greyhounds have also made the Patriot League Championships each season over the last six seasons, and are the only team in the Patriot League to do so.
With the goal off of the corner kick, the Greyhounds have now scored 13 of their 26 goals this season from a dead ball situation (free kick, corner, penalty).
DeSmit scored her 15th and 16th goals of the season, while adding her fifth assist. She now has the second most goals (16) and second most points (37) in a single season for the Greyhounds. Her 16 goals and 37 points is also the most by a Greyhound since joining the Patriot League. Her 37 points are the most by a Patriot League player since 2012 (Jillian Kinter, Colgate), while her 16 goals are the most since 2007 (Brigitte Fox, Navy).
DeSmit now ranks in the top 10 in NCAA Division I in goals, goals per game, and game-winning goals this season.
The Greyhounds advance to face off against the top seeded Bucknell Bison on Thursday at 7:00 pm in Lewisburg, PA.
