Box Score CHICAGO – Indiana State opened Missouri Valley Conference play tonight (Sept. 8) after traveling to Chicago, Ill. to face off with the Loyola Ramblers. The Sycamores fell by a score of 3-2.

The Sycamores and Ramblers found themselves in a back and forth battle throughout the first half of play.

Indiana State came forward with multiple offensive sequences toward goal, but was unable to capitalize on any chances in the final third.

Defensively the Sycamores remained strong against the aggressive efforts of the Ramblers offensive attack. Kasey Wallace and Katie Sullivan blocked multiple shots inside the 18 yard box and continually kept the back line organized.

In the 25^th minute the Ramblers caught the Sycamores on their heels and came down field with speed. Katie Grall dribbled into the ISU box before slotting a pass to Jenna Szczesney who just barely chipped the ball past Hannah Sullivan for a goal. This gave Loyola the 1-0 lead.

The Sycamores trailed the Ramblers heading into halftime.

Starting the second half Indiana State came out with a new energy. The Sycamores were springing numbers forward left and right and continually generating attack.

Katie Wells came away with two solid chances right away to start the second half. Wells ripped a shot from the top of the Rambler's 18 yard box that missed wide by inches and then followed up with another chance a few moments later, but was still unable to find the back of the net.

In the 51^st minute the momentum shifted back into Loyola's favor. The Ramblers scored two more goals within a three minute span. The first came from Grall who finished a front post cross and then in the 54^th minute Aleska Tataryn finished a header off a Loyola corner kick. The Sycamores trailed 3-0 as a result.

Wells ignited a spark for Indiana State in the 69^th minute of play after picking off a Loyola defensive pass and firing a shot to the back post for a goal putting the Sycamores on the board for the first time during the match. This tightened the gap to 3-1.

The Sycamores continued to try and battle their way back into the match.

In the 81^st minute of play Indiana State reduced the gap to a one goal lead for the Ramblers when Katie Sullivan sent an ISU free kick into the box finding the head of Sydney Hamker who flicked the ball backwards into the Loyola net. Indiana State trailed 3-2.

The Sycamores continued to push offensively, but were unable to come back from the one goal deficit despite valiant efforts. Indiana State now holds a 3-3-1 record with a 0-1 record in MVC play.

"Our effort in the second half was fantastic, but unfortunately we didn't show up to play for the full 90 minutes. Loyola came prepared and ready to play and it showed from the first whistle," said head coach Julie Hanley.

Indiana State will take the rest of the weekend off and be back in action on Sept. 15 welcoming Fort Wayne to Memorial Stadium for a 7 p.m. match.

For the latest information on the Sycamore Soccer team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.