Oct. 5, 2007

Final Stats

CHICAGO - Sophomore Cynthia Morote-Ariza accounted for all three goals as Loyola ran its program-best winning streak to five matches with a 3-0 shutout of Cleveland State tonight at Loyola Soccer Park. The Ramblers maintain their perfect Horizon League record and move to 7-5 (3-0) while dumping the Vikings to 3-9 (0-2).

After scoring two goals in the first five minutes on Tuesday night against Valpo, the Ramblers dented the scoreboard early against the Vikings. Alexia Murray was fouled deep in the CSU defensive-third and Morote-Ariza's ensuing free kick from an extremely tight angle snuck past the keeper inside the near post for a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute. Jackie Vera had a chance to add another midway through the period but saw her header go just over the bar. However, Morote-Ariza would add her second shortly thereafter. Good work from Brooke Schuppan got her past her defender and the freshman cut the ball back to Morote-Ariza who made no mistake from six yards out to make it 2-0 in the 32nd minute. The third came shortly after halftime, as she took a pass 20 yards away in the middle of the field, shook free from three Viking defenders and blasted a shot inside the post from the top of the box for a 3-0 lead after 50 minutes. The Rambler defense turned in another stellar performance and notched their fifth clean sheet of the season and third in the last four matches.

For Morote-Ariza, it was the first hat trick by a LU player since Stephanie Pauli scored three against Valparaiso during the 2004 season. The three goals bring her season tally to eight, tops in the Horizon League, and her career haul to 17, tying her with Lauren Danner (1998-2001) for fourth on the Ramblers' career list.

Loyola aims for its sixth straight win on Sunday afternoon when it battles Illinois State at 1 p.m. at Loyola Soccer Park.