CHICAGO – The No. 19-ranked University of Chicago women's soccer team fell victim to a late comeback at the hands of Hope College in a 2-1 loss on Wednesday.

The game marked the Maroons' first loss at home this season. The team's current record now sits at 5-3, while Hope's rose to 4-1-1.

In a game that would become a high-contact, physical matchup in the 84-degree southside heat, the Maroons appeared fresh early. Six minutes in, senior Hannah Rittenhouse was fouled on a breakaway, and sophomore Livia Sabloff stepped up to take the free kick. On a pinpoint accurate shot, Sabloff sent the ball into the back left corner, gifting UChicago an early lead.

But as the game wore on and both teams wore down, it was the visitors who proved opportunistic. At the 60-minute mark, Hope turned one of these fouls into a free kick goal of their own with a shot to the top shelf from just outside the box.

Twelve minutes later, as the defense flagged, the Flying Dutch attack began to rally. On a long rundown deep in UChicago territory, a Hope forward received a pass from the midfield and turned the corner with speed past the Maroon defense. She dashed into the box 1v1 and dished the ball to the far post for her teammate, who recorded the winning goal.

The Maroons commanded the shot advantage (14-10) and put six on goal to Hope's five. Two UChicago shots came painfully close to making the winning difference, clanging off the crossbar in the 11th and 58th minutes. The hosts also took eight corner kicks to Hope's six.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sophie Pilarski absorbed the loss with two goals against and three saves.

NEXT GAME:

• Saturday, Sept. 24 @ 3:00 PM – Knox College at UChicago