Contact: Nathan Cameron, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7243

Nov. 13, 2021 - The historic season continued for the No. 9 Loras College women's soccer team (20-0-1, 8-0-0 A-R-C) as they continued their run in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament Saturday afternoon against the Calvin University Knights in the Second Round matchup. A three-goal first half saw the Duhawks jump out with the lead early, holding on in the second half to secure the victory and advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2012. 

After downing Fontbonne University in the opening stages of the Tournament on Friday afternoon, the Duhawks went toe-to-toe with the Knights from Calvin, who reached the second round as an at-large selection and defeating another at-large selection in Milwaukee School of Engineering in the First Round. 

The Duhawks got on the board early in the first half as NCAA Division III assists leader and single-season assists record holder Payton McDonnell continued to show her strength on set plays as she lined up a corner kick. McDonnell placed a cross into the box that saw Calvin keeper Sarah Hoekwater attempt a clearance that ended up at the feet of Hannah Schmitz who put it across the mouth of the net for Ryleigh O'Brien who fired a shot into the back of the net to put Loras up 1-0 in the 7th minute of the game. 

Six minutes later, the Duhawks continued to press the net and capitalized on a handball in the box that saw head coach Matt Pucci look towards McDonnell to put home a penalty kick. McDonnell took advantage of the opportunity and hit a shot to the right in which Hoekwater clipped with her legs but the deflection rolled back just over the line to put the Duhawks up by two. 

In the 19th minute, O'Brien struck again to widen the Duhawks' lead by three goals as Brynn Jacobi fired a shot on goal at Hoekwater, who cleared the shot directly to Emily Perhats who hit a missile of a shot that hit the crossbar and ended up right back at O'Brien to put home to bring the score to 3-0 where it stayed through regulation. 

O'Brien's goal comes as her ninth on the season and her fourth of the postseason, scoring a goal in both the American Rivers Conference Tournament Semifinals and Championship. In goal, sophomore keeper Kyndal Kells turned in her ninth clean sheet of the season, turning away all seven shots she faced. 

The Duhawks' next test will come against the Centre College Colonels, who advanced to the Sweet Sixteen with a 2-1 win over No. 21 Emory University. With more games to be played in the opening rounds of the Tournament, the date, time and location of the Sweet Sixteen are still to be determined. Check duhawks.com in the coming days for more information on where the Duhawks will be competing.