Loyola’s soccer team continues to show improvement, but a better effort still produced a 4-0 loss to Belhaven College last Friday.

Lady Blazer Morgan Elrod put two shots in the goal, starting off the scoring five minutes into the first half. Elrod kicked the ball into the goal from close range when Wolfpack goalkeeper Jordann Webster, international business freshman, deflected the first shot off a shot attempt from the Blazers and netted it in.

The second goal came in the 23rd minute when the Blazers scored another goal as Dana Sullivan went through the Wolfpack defense on the left side of the goal to score the second goal of the evening to put the tally at 2-0.

Morgan Elrod was the beneficiary of a call inside the penalty area and was given a spot kick. Her shot was true, and Belhaven took a 3-0 lead into the half.

Despite Loyola having only one substitution for the night compared to Belhaven having more depth, they held their own in the second half.

For the second half, Loyola had to play one player down after a red card. They produced two shots. Allyson Davis scored off a cross pass in the 70th minute to make the final score 4-0.

Loyola’s defense was much more efficient, allowing seven shots on goals and 13 shots total compared to five shots. Coach David Poggi was pleased with the improved play.

“I’m extremely proud of the effort that we gave. Any time you’re put in a difficult situation, your character emerges. I felt that we fought to the end.

“We had good energy as a group, and Lindsay Diak and CeCe Colbert played exceptionally well. We were unlucky not to be rewarded with a goal both in the first and second halves. On any other night, it could have made a difference.”

Loyola is still looking for their first victory in conference play. Their next chance will be against rival Spring Hill College on Oct. 24th in Mobile, Ala.

Loyola’s last home game is scheduled against Spring Hill that same week on Oct.29th.

Harold Kuntz can be reached at [email protected].