MACOMB, Ill. – Sarah Hall's second goal in three matches put Western Illinois (6-7-2) ahead in the first half, but the Fighting Leathernecks were unable to hold on to the lead and settled for a 1-1 draw with Loyola-Chicago (4-7-5) on Friday (Oct. 18).

"Sarah Wright's ball to start the second half into Sarah Hall was the best ball played in the entire match," said head coach Ted Flogaites. "How we've missed a one-on-one with the keeper and gone wide is beyond me. Then we missed a ball on Sloane's header. And Chrissy had a chance to take an attacking touch. We had three chances, all three in my mind were sitters and we had to bury one and if we scored the second goal ten to 20 seconds into the second half the game is over. Overall, I'm displeased with the result."

Hall found herself in space early in the match, but her shot was blocked before Allison Shimer tested Laura Atkinson in the 9th minute. Atkinson made another crucial save just seven minutes later, denying Tricia Stonebraker.

Western nearly grabbed the lead in the 21st minute. After taking a corner, the clearance fell to Kristin Becker whose shot was blocked before forcing Monica Gonyo to make a save.

Just six minutes later, Hall and the Leathernecks would find the goal they were searching for. Taylor Henning's cross was tipped onto the bar by Gonyo and the Ramblers were unable to clear. Hall found herself on the other end of a bouncing ball and she finished off the opportunity to put the Leathernecks in front 1-0.

"I thought it was a good goal," Flogaites said. "At the time I thought we had most of the play so I thought it was a good reward for what we were trying to do."

Western would control possession the remainder of the first half and the beginning of the second, including a chance just 18 seconds into the second half. Sarah Wright tried to spark the Leathernecks early, finding Hall behind the Rambler defense but her shot went wide of the post.

The Ramblers grabbed the equalizer when Stonebraker played a long ball over the top to Moriah Schwarz. A defensive miscue allowed Schwarz to level the match on a wide open net in the 67th minute.

"We gifted them a goal into a game that they didn't deserve to be in," Flogaites said.

Atkinson and the Western defense rebounded, preventing Loyola from scoring the go-ahead goal just nine minutes later.

Western had six chances late in the match to go in front, but Gonyo kept the match level and sent the match into overtime.

Loyola had the lone opportunity in the first overtime period, but Monika Lee's shot was saved by Atkinson.

The Leathernecks controlled the second overtime, and nearly won the match two minutes in when Laura Mick's shot was tipped over the bar by Gonyo.

On the ensuing corner, Hall almost grabbed her second goal of the match but her header went high.

Chrissy Campbell had a chance midway through, by Gonyo was able to gather her shot and the match would end 1-1.

Western Illinois remains at home and welcomes Fort Wayne to Macomb on Sunday at noon. The match between the Mastodons and Leathernecks features the sixth and fourth placed teams in The Summit League.

"It's not a big game on Sunday, it's a must-win, monster, giant match in every way, shape and form," Flogaites emphasized. "It's an absolute must-win if we want to try and get a foothold to try and get into the tournament and we have to realize that."

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