Reed's Early Strikes Lead DePaul Past Loyola Maryland

Sunday, August 31

Baltimore, Md.

12:00 PM

DePaul University

Loyola Maryland

Reed's Early Strikes Lead DePaul Past Loyola Maryland

8/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER

Aug. 31, 2014

Box Score

BALTIMORE - Loyola Maryland's nickname is the Greyhounds, but it was DePaul that came streaking out of the gate on Sunday.

The hot-shooting Abby Reed scored two goals in the first 15 minutes in sparking the Blue Demons to a 4-2 nonconference victory over Loyola Maryland at the Ridley Athletic Complex.

DePaul improved to 4-0-0 while Loyola Maryland dropped to 1-3-0.

Less than four minutes after the opening whistle, heady midfielder Alexa Ben sent a near-side cross to Reed who struck a left-footed shot past Greyhound goalkeeper Colleen Folan. That was Ben's third assist of the young season.

In the ninth minute, Elise Wyatt ripped a shot off the post. One minute later, Folan made the save on another Wyatt shot.

In the 15th minute, Wyatt crossed the ball into the middle of the box where Reed's second shot of the game found nothing but net. It was Reed's fifth goal of the season and Wyatt's first assist.

"We had a lot of chances early, and it was nice to get a couple goals," said DePaul coach Erin Chastain. "We left a few on the table and will continue working on finishing in the attacking third.

"Scoring goals is hard, especially in humid, 90-degree weather. We'll take the positives from these four goals."

DePaul's defense in the first half kept Loyola in check as the Greyhounds did not register a shot until the 17th minute. By then, the Blue Demons already had five shots and three shots on goal.

Amber Paul's header in the 50th minute proved to be the game-winning goal as the senior midfielder scored after a well-placed aerial cross from Rachel Pitman. Paul made it 3-0 with her first goal of the season.

"Amber got a great service from Rachel," Chastain said. "Amber made a nice run in the box and flicked it past the goalkeeper."

After Loyola Maryland's Jess Soldiviero scored in the 75th minute, Paul returned the favor and sent a corner kick in front of the net that Pitman connected on in the 87th minute for a 4-1 lead.

"On that one, Amber served up a good corner kick," Chastain said. "Rachel made a great run to the post and had a nice finish."

The Greyhounds' Nicole Wahlig scored in the 88th minute.

"We made a lot of substitutions and everybody played," Chastain said. "It's pretty rare in Division I soccer to play everybody on your team.

"This was a good opportunity for our kids to get minutes. It could certainly pay dividends for us down the road."

NOTES: This is the first time DePaul has started the season 4-0-0 since the 2001 team went 5-0-0... the 2009 team opened up 3-0-1 while the 2002, 2003, 2012 and 2013 teams all began 3-1-0... Loyola Maryland outshot DePaul 10-9 and both teams had six shots on goal...the Blue Demons had a 3-1 edge in corner kicks... Wyatt had three shots and one on goal... both of Reed's shots were right on target... Paul had two shots with one on goal... Pitman and Nina Kodros each had a shot on goal... Wyatt, Paul and Pitman each picked up the first assist of the season... Megan Pyrz was DePaul's goalkeeper in the second half... Sunday's match was the first time the Blue Demons had ever played Loyola Maryland... Greyhounds first-year coach Naomi Meiburger was familiar with DePaul's program after spending 11 years on the Georgetown coaching staff---the last three as associate head coach.