Thursday, August 14
Chicago, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
1-0-0, 0-0-0
2
at
0
Loyola Chicago
0-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Northwestern
1
1
2
Loyola Chicago
0
0
0
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Defeats Loyola Chicago 2-0 in Season Opener
8/14/2025 9:59:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CHICAGO — While Northwestern women's soccer coach Michael Moynihan felt his squad weathered its grueling exhibition tests, he knew Thursday night's regular season opener at Loyola Chicago provided a new challenge for the program.
Behind a cadre of young contributors, the Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) defeated the Ramblers (0-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10) 2-0. Sophomore forward Mary Stroebel netted the first half's lone tally, her first career goal, while sophomore forward Kennedy Roesch added an instrumental insurance goal in the 86th minute.
First-year goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson found out Wednesday that she'd be in line to make her first career start at Loyola Soccer Park. Nelson, who became the first true first-year goalkeeper to start a season opener for the Wildcats since Reiley Fitzpatrick did so in 2022, recorded three saves and notched a clean sheet.
Nelson said once she recorded her first career save — thwarting a Loyola breakaway in the 22nd minute — she felt her nerves quickly settle. The West Linn, Ore., native was quick to deflect credit to her backline.
"Everyone just works for each other," Nelson said. "That's what makes it [so I] only have to save three shots. On paper, it's a shutout, but it's a whole team thing."
Late in the first half, Moynihan sent in a flurry of substitutes to capture a spark in the attacking third. Soon after, first-year Selma Sol Sigurjonsdottir whipped in a 41st minute cross from the right flank. Stroebel met the ball at the back post and headed in Northwestern's first goal of the 2025 campaign.
Stroebel, who missed the entirety of last season with an injury, scored less than three minutes after entering the match to give the 'Cats a 1-0 halftime lead. Northwestern outshot Loyola 8-2 in the first 45 minutes of action and amassed a 4-1 edge on corner kicks.
"It's Mary's first action in a regular season game… Selma's first action," Moynihan said, "it's great for them building a bit of confidence. I said to them at halftime, 'That was great." Not just them, but the other players that came off the bench gave us a nice boost, and we had a ton of momentum there at the end of the half."
As play resumed in the second half, both sides vied for the essential next goal. Roesch unleashed an effort from a dangerous position just two minutes after the halftime break, but Ramblers goalkeeper Alison Deardorff parried the shot away.
Moynihan said he felt momentum swing several times as the half ran on. When he substituted Roesch back into the match in the 84th minute, he figured Northwestern's 2024 leading goalscorer just needed one chance to put the result away.
"She's been doing it her whole life," Moynihan said of Roesch. "That's her game. You get her around the goal, and she finds ways to score."
With less than five minutes remaining, sophomore forward Alex Fallon found Roesch open in the Loyola box. The sophomore buried the 86th minute finish to double the 'Cats advantage.
Roesch said she put in a concerted effort during the offseason to improve her fitness so she could make an impact throughout a 90-minute match. As she held a prime opportunity to do just that late in Thursday's game, Roesch had just one thought: "Don't crush it."
"It's a very positive reinforcement to see what we've done in practice come and showcase in the games," Roesch said. "We've been working on crossing and one, two-touch finishing. It's the hardest thing to do in the sport — to score goals. The fact that we were able to get on the board not once, but twice, is something we're really proud of."
The Wildcats return to action Sunday, with a 12 p.m. CT matchup at Illinois State on ESPN+.
Behind a cadre of young contributors, the Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) defeated the Ramblers (0-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10) 2-0. Sophomore forward Mary Stroebel netted the first half's lone tally, her first career goal, while sophomore forward Kennedy Roesch added an instrumental insurance goal in the 86th minute.
"Hopefully it builds," Moynihan said of the result, Northwestern's fourth consecutive season-opening win. "We take it one game at a time. It's always good to get off the mark with a win."Season Opener DUB ??? pic.twitter.com/Dm9ixEAJZm
— Northwestern Soccer (@NUWSoccer) August 15, 2025
First-year goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson found out Wednesday that she'd be in line to make her first career start at Loyola Soccer Park. Nelson, who became the first true first-year goalkeeper to start a season opener for the Wildcats since Reiley Fitzpatrick did so in 2022, recorded three saves and notched a clean sheet.
Nelson said once she recorded her first career save — thwarting a Loyola breakaway in the 22nd minute — she felt her nerves quickly settle. The West Linn, Ore., native was quick to deflect credit to her backline.
"Everyone just works for each other," Nelson said. "That's what makes it [so I] only have to save three shots. On paper, it's a shutout, but it's a whole team thing."
Late in the first half, Moynihan sent in a flurry of substitutes to capture a spark in the attacking third. Soon after, first-year Selma Sol Sigurjonsdottir whipped in a 41st minute cross from the right flank. Stroebel met the ball at the back post and headed in Northwestern's first goal of the 2025 campaign.
Stroebel, who missed the entirety of last season with an injury, scored less than three minutes after entering the match to give the 'Cats a 1-0 halftime lead. Northwestern outshot Loyola 8-2 in the first 45 minutes of action and amassed a 4-1 edge on corner kicks.
"It's Mary's first action in a regular season game… Selma's first action," Moynihan said, "it's great for them building a bit of confidence. I said to them at halftime, 'That was great." Not just them, but the other players that came off the bench gave us a nice boost, and we had a ton of momentum there at the end of the half."
As play resumed in the second half, both sides vied for the essential next goal. Roesch unleashed an effort from a dangerous position just two minutes after the halftime break, but Ramblers goalkeeper Alison Deardorff parried the shot away.
Moynihan said he felt momentum swing several times as the half ran on. When he substituted Roesch back into the match in the 84th minute, he figured Northwestern's 2024 leading goalscorer just needed one chance to put the result away.
"She's been doing it her whole life," Moynihan said of Roesch. "That's her game. You get her around the goal, and she finds ways to score."
With less than five minutes remaining, sophomore forward Alex Fallon found Roesch open in the Loyola box. The sophomore buried the 86th minute finish to double the 'Cats advantage.
Roesch said she put in a concerted effort during the offseason to improve her fitness so she could make an impact throughout a 90-minute match. As she held a prime opportunity to do just that late in Thursday's game, Roesch had just one thought: "Don't crush it."
"It's a very positive reinforcement to see what we've done in practice come and showcase in the games," Roesch said. "We've been working on crossing and one, two-touch finishing. It's the hardest thing to do in the sport — to score goals. The fact that we were able to get on the board not once, but twice, is something we're really proud of."
The Wildcats return to action Sunday, with a 12 p.m. CT matchup at Illinois State on ESPN+.
Team Stats
NOR
LUC
Goals
2
0
Shots
14
9
Shots on Goal
5
3
Saves
3
3
Corners
5
1
Fouls
12
18
Scoring Plays
Mary Stroebel (1)
Assisted By: Selma Sol Sigurjonsdottir , Caterina Regazzoni
GOAL by NOR Stroebel, Mary Assist by Sigurjonsdottir, Selma Sol and Regazzoni, Caterina.
40:21
Kennedy Roesch (1)
Assisted By: Alex Fallon
GOAL by NOR Roesch, Kennedy Assist by Fallon, Alex.
85:51
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D/M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerWomen's Soccer - Northwestern Upends No. 4 TCU behind Roesch's Goal (9/4/25)
Friday, September 05
Women's Soccer - 'Cats Blank Butler behind Hennen's Goal (8/31/25)
Sunday, August 31
Women's Soccer - Wildcats Blank Loyola 2-0 in Season Opener (8/14/25)
Friday, August 15
BEST OF: Kennedy Roesch Rookie Reel
Thursday, August 14
