The Matchup
- The Greyhounds continue in the Postseason, as they will travel to face the Bucknell Bison in the Patriot League Semifinals.
- This will be the 17th matchup between the two programs, and the second meeting this season.
- Earlier this season, the Bison defeated the Greyhounds 1-0 in Lewisburg, PA. In each of the Bison's last two wins over the Greyhounds, they have won 1-0 in each.
Quick Hits
- Baylee DeSmit has been putting up remarkable numbers this season, as she has 16 goals and five 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 6-3-5.
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 23-12-7 record at home, and are 6-2-3 at home this season.
- So far this season, Loyola has gone 6-2-3 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, Colgate, 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.
Where We Rank
- Entering the Postseason, the Greyhounds ranked second in team defense in the Patriot League, allowing just 16 goals this season. While they are sixth in scoring offense so far.
- Baylee DeSmit, the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, leads the Patriot League in Shots (112), Shots on Goal (57), goals (16), game-winning goals (6), and first in points (37) this season.
- Elizabeth Gallagher is tied for second in the Patriot League with six assists this season.
- Brigid Mulholland ranks second in goals against average (.946), fourth in save percentage (.784), and tied for second in shutouts (5) this season.
- DeSmit leads NCAA Division I in shots and shots on goal, while she also ranks tied for fourth in goals, goals per game, game winning goals, and points per game in NCAA Division I this season. She is also sixth in total points.
- DeSmit leads the country in highest percentage of goal contributions (78.2%), as she has scored or assisted on 21 of 26 goals this season.
Scouting Bucknell
- The Bison come into the matchup with a 11-4-2 (7-2) record on the season and are the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Championships.
- Bucknell defeated Loyola 1-0 in their matchup earlier this year, thanks to a goal right before half from Teresa Deda.
- Deda was named the Patriot League Midfielder of the Year, while Katie Schiano was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Head Coach Kelly Cook also was named as the Coach of the Year.
- Along with Deda (First) and Schiano (First), Jess Benattar (Second), Katie Connel (Third), Reese Evans (Third), and Meghan White (Third) earned All Patriot League Honors.
- Deda leads the league in assists (8) and is third in goals (9) and points (26) on the season.
- Jess Benattar has started in 14 games this season, tallying 37 saves, a .860 save percentage, and a 0.46 goals against average.
Quick Notes
- The 2024 season will be the 14th season the Greyhounds have been in the Patriot League, going 34-45-23 during that span, reaching the Patriot League Championships in six straight seasons, which includes three 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 40-32-18.
- The Greyhounds have gone 66-45-20 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 8-1-3 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 27 of the last 31 games in which they have scored two goals or more, which dates back to Sept. 6, 2018. Loyola is 5-1 when scoring multiple goals this season.
- The Greyhounds are 30-2-5 when scoring first and 21-1-1 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 has had a monster year for Loyola, as she leads the Patriot League in goals and points.
- Her 16 goals and 37 points this season ranks second all time in a single season, trailing just Ali Andrzejewski, who had 18 goals and 43 points in 2004.
- 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.
- DeSmit's 16 goals this season are the most goals scored in the Patriot League since the 2007 season (Brigitte Fox, Navy), while her 37 points are the most since 2012 (Jillian Kinter, Colgate)
- DeSmit's current ranks all-time at Loyola:
Career:
Points: 93 (2nd)
Goals: 36 (2nd)
Assists: 21 (2nd)
Points Per Game: 1.31 (3rd)
Goals Per Game: .507 (3rd)
Assists Per Game: .295 (4th)
Game-Winning Goals: 13 (T-2nd)
Single-Season (2024):
Points: 37 (2nd)
Goals: 16 (2nd)
Points Per Game: 2.17 (1st)
Goals Per Game: .941 (1st)
