WORCESTER, Mass. – Behind a season-high 10-save performance from goalkeeper
Hannah Goetzer and a second-half strike from
Francesca Khachatourians, the Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Holy Cross on Sunday afternoon to advance to the Patriot League Semifinals.
With the win, it will be the Greyhounds first semifinal appearance since the 2024 season.
After spending a portion of the first half defending, Loyola leaned on Goetzer, who made three saves before halftime to keep the match scoreless despite Holy Cross holding a 9-1 advantage in shots through the opening 45 minutes.
The Greyhounds broke through early in the second half. Just 4:09 after the restart,
Reagan Mallia delivered a pass to Khachatourians, who finished for her second goal of the season and a 1-0 Loyola lead in the 50th minute.
That goal proved to be all the Greyhounds needed.
Holy Cross continued to press forward, firing 15 second-half shots and earning six corner kicks after intermission, but Loyola's defense stood tall. Goetzer made seven saves in the second half, including several key stops on attempts from Sam Halligan, Karenna Beckstein and Ava Graham. A team save in the 82nd minute also helped preserve the shutout.
Goetzer finished with a season-best 10 saves, which is also her most in a Loyola uniform, for her fourth victory of the year and recorded the clean sheet as Loyola overcame a 24-4 disadvantage in total shots and a 9-4 deficit in corner kicks.
Khachatourians accounted for Loyola's lone shot on goal and lone goal, while Mallia picked up the assist.
The Greyhounds will face Navy on Wednesday at noon.
