Loyola captures 2006 Horizon League Women's Soccer Championship with 2-1 victory over Detroit

Nov. 5, 2006

Loyola 2, Detroit 1
Milwaukee, Wis. - Ashley Morawski headed in a Cynthia Morote-Ariza free kick in the 85th minute as Loyola University Chicago captured the 2006 Horizon League Women's Soccer Championship with a 2-1 victory over the University of Detroit Mercy Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Park in Milwaukee, Wis.

With the win, the Ramblers (14-6-3) earn the League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 64-team bracket will be announced on ESPNEWS on Monday, Nov. 6 between 3-4 p.m.

Jackie Vera cracked the scoreboard for Loyola in the 26th minute, taking a Morote-Ariza feed and beating UDM goalkeeper Katie Fortenberry to the bottom left corner of the net from just inside the box.

Detroit (10-11-0) tied the game in the 78th minute as the Titans received a penalty kick after Andrea DiPace was taken down in the box. Senior Mary Parker took the kick and found the right-side of the net for her Horizon League-best 17th goal of the season.

Less than seven minutes later, LU was awarded a free kick which set up Morawski's heroics. Morote-Ariza struck the ball to the back post and Morawski elevated over the Titan defenders to head the ball into the net.

The Ramblers held a 21-8 advantage in shots and a 3-0 edge in corner kicks. Fortenberry turned away ten shots in the contest, compared to two by her Loyola counterpart Emily Peick.

Morote-Ariza, Morawski, Vera and Heather Lau were all named to the All-Tournament Team for LU, with Morote-Ariza earning MVP accolades. Parker, Fortenberry and Shelley Marick earned the honor for Detroit.


Loyola Ramblers - 2006 Horizon League Women's Soccer Champions

Box Score

All-Tournament Team
Cynthia Morote-Ariza, Loyola (MVP)
Jackie Vera, Loyola
Ashley Morawski, Loyola
Heather Lau, Loyola
Mary Parker, Detroit
Shelley Marick, Detroit
Ginny Graczyk, UW-Milwaukee
Erin Kreuser, UW-Milwaukee
Amanda Winn, UW-Milwaukee
Angie Muir, Butler
GK - Katie Fortenberry, Detroit