Greyhounds Strike Late to Beat Holy Cross in Patriot League Opener
Loyola University Maryland women’s soccer entered Patriot League play still searching for its first victory of the 2026 season after seven draws through its first eight matches. The Greyhounds finally broke through when conference play began, earning a dramatic 2-1 road victory over Holy Cross on Sunday afternoon at Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The victory improved Loyola to 1-1-7 overall and, more importantly, 1-0 in Patriot League play. Holy Cross dropped to 4-4-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference. It was an important three points for a Loyola team that had proven difficult to beat throughout the nonconference schedule but had been unable to turn close matches into victories.
Loyola wasted little time taking control of the scoreboard. The Greyhounds earned a corner in the opening minutes, and Reagan Mallia connected with Francesca Curatolo for the game’s opening goal at the 4:11 mark. Curatolo’s finish gave Loyola a 1-0 advantage before Holy Cross had an opportunity to settle into the match.
Holy Cross responded by generating significantly more opportunities, but Loyola’s defense refused to surrender its early advantage. The Crusaders outshot the Greyhounds 7-4 during the opening 45 minutes, while Loyola held a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal. Greyhounds goalkeeper Hannah Goetzer stopped all three Holy Cross attempts on target to send Loyola into halftime with the 1-0 lead.
The pressure increased considerably after halftime. Holy Cross produced 10 shots in the second half while limiting Loyola to only two, and the Crusaders also generated six second-half corner kicks. Loyola spent much of the period defending, but Goetzer and the Greyhounds continued to protect the one-goal advantage.
Holy Cross finally found its equalizer in the 76th minute. Karenna Beckstein converted a penalty kick at 75:44, ending a Holy Cross scoreless stretch of nearly 280 minutes and tying the match at 1-1. With the Crusaders controlling much of the second-half attack, the momentum appeared to have shifted heavily toward the home side.
Loyola needed only 62 seconds to answer.
Savannah Manset delivered the biggest moment of the afternoon at 76:46. Manset went the length of the field before sending a shot into the top center of the net, immediately restoring Loyola’s advantage at 2-1. It was Manset’s second goal of the season and turned what appeared headed toward Loyola’s eighth draw into the Greyhounds’ first victory.
The Greyhounds then protected the lead through the final 13-plus minutes. Holy Cross continued searching for another equalizer, but Loyola’s defense held and completed the 2-1 victory. Goetzer finished with six saves, while Holy Cross goalkeeper Antriana Mila recorded three saves.
The final statistics demonstrated how much defensive work Loyola needed to do. Holy Cross finished with a 17-6 advantage in total shots, a 7-5 edge in shots on goal and an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. The Crusaders produced 10 of their 17 shots after halftime, but Loyola made its limited attacking opportunities count by scoring twice on only six total attempts.
That efficiency represented a significant development for a Greyhounds team that had struggled to turn opportunities into goals. Through nine matches, Loyola has scored six goals while allowing eight. The Greyhounds have also been outshot 124-51, yet their defensive structure and goalkeeping have helped them remain competitive in nearly every match.
Loyola’s unusual start to the season included draws against William & Mary, No. 10 Arkansas, George Mason, Stony Brook, Fairleigh Dickinson, Iowa State and James Madison. The Greyhounds’ only defeat came in a 3-0 road loss to Princeton on Aug. 20. After four consecutive draws immediately preceding conference play, the victory over Holy Cross finally pushed Loyola into the win column.
The result also continued Loyola’s recent success against Holy Cross. The Greyhounds entered the match with a 4-0-1 record over their previous five meetings with the Crusaders. Sunday’s result extended that unbeaten stretch while giving Loyola an ideal beginning to its Patriot League schedule.
Loyola now turns its attention toward another important conference matchup. The Greyhounds return to Baltimore to host Boston University on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. at Ridley Athletic Complex. Boston University also won its Patriot League opener, rallying past Navy 2-1, setting up a meeting between two teams that opened conference play with three points.
MSB Take
Loyola’s first victory could not have arrived at a better time. The Greyhounds spent the nonconference portion of the schedule proving they could stay with quality opponents, including a 1-1 draw against nationally ranked Arkansas, but seven draws left them without much reward in the win column. Conference play gives Loyola a fresh opportunity, and taking three points on the road is an excellent way to begin that portion of the season.
The most encouraging part of Sunday’s victory was Loyola’s response after Holy Cross tied the match. Instead of allowing the Crusaders’ penalty kick to completely swing the momentum, Manset answered just 62 seconds later with the game-winning goal. Loyola was outshot and spent long stretches defending, but Goetzer’s six saves and two timely finishes were enough to secure a valuable Patriot League road victory.
Now the challenge is turning one win into momentum. Loyola has already shown that it can be extremely difficult to defeat, and if the Greyhounds can combine that defensive consistency with more timely scoring, those early-season draws could start becoming victories during Patriot League play.
