Section 2A soccer arrived at Good Counsel Campus Field on a crisp, bright day—a sharp contrast to the rain and mud two weeks prior when the Mankato Loyola Lady Crusaders and the Stewartville Tigers last met. But despite the change in atmosphere, the high-stakes matchup yielded a familiar, painful result for the home squad.
Claiming the No. 4 seed after an 8-8 regular season, Loyola hosted its first home playoff game in roughly a decade. Facing the No. 5 seed Stewartville in the quarterfinal round, the Crusaders fought through a wild first-half shootout and a gritty second period before ultimately falling 4-2 to end their 2026 campaign.
Loyola set the tone on the very first possession. Just 30 seconds into the match, Johannes tapped home an opening goal, sending the Crusader crowd into a frenzy.
The early lead showcased Loyola’s aggressive game plan, anchored by the return of team leader Beyer, playing with a heavily taped knee after recovering from a late-season injury. The physical nature of the playoff battle was evident early as Johannes took a hard collision but remained in the match, while defender Carpenter delivered a textbook takedown and steal to halt a Tiger attack.
However, a sloppy Crusader pass shortly after gave Stewartville the opening it needed, resulting in a breakaway goal to knot the score at 1-1.
Loyola countered with quick transition play. A slicing pass from Roe found a trailing Nelson on the right side, who chipped the ball past the keeper to push Loyola back in front, 2-1.
The back-and-forth rhythm continued as the Tigers pounced on a booming shot downfield, sailing a kick over Loyola goalkeeper Garnica to tie the game at 2-2. Stewartville then caught Loyola on a quick transition break, netting a left-side strike to take a 3-2 lead with five minutes left in the half.
Garnica kept the deficit at one with two miraculous saves in the final minute, sending Loyola into the break down 3-2.
Adjusting at halftime, Coach Sims emphasized defensive rotation and “pinching the back line” to shield against Stewartville’s relentless press.
Loyola came out with urgency in the second half. Nelson crashed the net with an early shot, and Garnica continued her strong play between the posts, finishing with seven saves on the night. Carpenter and Beyer anchored the back row, staving off multiple attacks to keep the Crusaders within striking distance.
Offensively, however, Loyola struggled to convert its chances against a disciplined Tigers defense. Midway through the half, Stewartville found an opening to sneak in an insurance goal, building a 4-2 advantage that held until the final whistle.
While the quarterfinal loss was a bitter end, the 2026 season marked significant progress for the Lady Crusaders program. Loyola finished 8-8, scored 34 goals on the year—over a dozen more than the previous season—and earned three more wins than in 2025. Johannes capped off an outstanding season with 13 goals and five assists, leading an offensive attack that showed substantial growth and diversity.
“It was not the result we wanted, nor what we played for, but I am incredibly proud of the way the girls rallied in the second half of the game,” said Coach Sims following the match. “The way this team came together was inspiring… This was the first year in about 10 years that we were seeded in the top half of the section and were able to host a section game at home. That is a huge testament to all the effort the girls put in throughout the year.”
With a strong core set to return in 2027 with added varsity experience, the foundation is laid for Loyola to continue its upward trajectory in Section 2A.
