Loyola Wins 2012 MAAC Women's Soccer Championship

11/4/2012 8:14:00 PM

MAAC Sports

Poughkeepsie, N.Y.  - Third-seeded Loyola University Maryland earned its 10^th MAAC title with a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Marist College in the title game of the 2012 Women's Soccer Championship at Marist's Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field.

In the 22^nd minute, Gigi Mangione converted a penalty kick to give the Greyhounds a 1-0 lead over the Red Foxes. 

Then in the 72^nd minute, MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Nichole Schiro tapped in a cross from Mangione into the lower left corner of the net to give Loyola a 2-0 lead over Marist.

Three minutes later, Marist got credit for an own goal by Loyola to make it a 2-1 contest.

Mangione was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship, joining teammates Schiro, Jenny Thornton and Didi Haracic on the All-Tournament Team.  Marist was represented by Chelsea Botta, Amanda Epstein and Rycke Guiney on the squad.  Fairfield University's Nikki Stanton and Alli Walsh as well as Iona College's Laura Jackson and Leah Taylor rounded out the members of the All-Tournament Team.

Loyola has earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship.  The bracket announcement for the 2012 NCAA® Women's College Cup will take place on Monday, Nov. 5 at approximately 4:30 p.m. on ncaa.com. 

Championship Final:	1st	2nd	Final
Loyola (12-5-4, 6-2-1 MAAC)	1	1	2
Marist (15-7, 8-1 MAAC)	0	1	1

Scoring: Loyola - Gigi Mangione (penalty kick) 22:02, Nichole Schiro (Mangione) 72:12; Marist - own goal, 75:12

Saves: Loyola - Didi Haracic 5; Marist - Andrea Wicks 3
Shots: Marist 19, Loyola 7
Corner Kicks: Marist 5, Loyola 4
Fouls: Loyola 15, Marist 8

Offsides: Loyola 1, Marist 1