A weekend notable for two evenly matched teams ended with a red card Sunday at Mississippi Valley State, a National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I team, in Itta Bena, Miss.
Although the Delta Devils outshot the Wolfpack, 17-6, Loyola’s defense kept the game close.
The first half ended in a scoreless tie, and it took the Delta Devils 20 minutes into the second half to score their first goal, which was against last years’ returning starting goalie Leila Manouchehri, a sociology senior. Manouchehri, who reported to the team late in the season, wasn’t supposed to play until the second half Sunday. But because of a leg injury to visual graphics senior Lorraine Molina during Saturday’s game, coach Therrell decided to put her in.
Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, Mississippi Valley solidified the game with a goal in the 88th minute of what players have called a hard, physical match.
“Leila had an excellent game, stopping some crucial shots, including a penalty kick,” coach Therrell said.
Public relations junior Megan Galizia received the red card after the final whistle. One of the Mississippi Valley players reportedly punched her, while members of the two teams were saying, “good game.” Galizia got the card for responding verbally. The other player did not receive a card.
“It was just an ugly game we were playing in the rain,” Galizia said. “It was tied throughout the first half, and they got really frustrated.”
“The last play of the game, I had won the ball, and she stabbed at the ball with her foot, so I ran into her, and play went on,” Galizia said. “She broke through her friends (who were holding her back) and hit my shoulder.”
She added, “It was frustrating to get a red card – the center ref shouldn’t have made the call when he didn’t see it happen.”
It is unclear what other factors may have led to the incident.
According to Therrell, “it was a hard-fought physical game that unfortunately ended in an unacceptable manner.”
The Wolfpack started its weekend in Jackson, Miss,. at Millsaps College. The two teams met earlier in the season in a close match, which Loyola won in overtime. Like the first meeting with the Majors, this game went into overtime but with a different result.
The game began with Loyola on top for much of the first half. Two minutes in, public relations junior Megan Galizia scored off an assist from music philosophy sophomore Michaela Bono. With ten minutes left in the first half, Millsaps evened the game with a score from the outside.
The second half was spent with Loyola primarily on the offensive, but the Wolfpack was unable to finish. Loyola did not capitalize on some key scoring chances in overtime, and the game ended in a sour tie.
Molina had 11 saves on 12 shots, but the ‘Pack offense only managed five shots over the course of the 110-minute game.
“Our shots were just not going in. It’s frustrating to leave with a tie when we know we should have won,” criminal justice freshman Amy Budahn said.
The Wolfpack (2-5-1) will travel to Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday to take on Huntingdon College. The match is scheduled for 11 a.m.
