BALTIMORE — Colgate scored a goal in each half to down Loyola 2-0 in the Patriot League quarterfinals Sunday at Ridley Athletic Complex.
 
Sophomores Ellie Stokes and Ari Bezanson led the way, each finding the back of the net for the Raiders. With the victory, Colgate advances to the semifinals and will take on No. 1 seeded Army Thursday.
 
Bezanson sealed the deal with a goal in the 88th minute to make it 2-0. She took the ball away from a Loyola defender outside the box then dribbled in on the left side, deked out a defender, and slotted a shot into the bottom right corner. The goal marked the seventh of the season for the All-Patriot League First Team selection.
 
Stokes made a triumphant return to her home state, scoring in the 38th minute to put the Raiders ahead 1-0. Sara Anelli played a through ball into the box that split two defenders. Stokes took a couple of dribbles before firing a shot over a diving Loyola keeper for her second goal this season.
 
Colgate had a few other chances to add to its lead in the second half. In the 75th minute, Stokes cut in and took a shot that got blocked by a defender. She then tried a follow-up shot that also got blocked. Shortly before Bezanson's goal, Colgate got awarded a free kick, but could not get anything out of it.
 
Alli Popham stopped two shots in the second half, including a save in the 65th minute to deny the Greyhounds a chance from inside the box. The junior made a pair of saves in the first, finishing with four total. Demi Maroudas also came up with a goal-line save, clearing the ball out of the air in the 28th minute.
 
In the first, the Raiders had an early opportunity eight minutes in when Bezanson ripped one off a rebound from a cross, but it got saved by the keeper. Two minutes later, Paige Foa got around a defender and fired one that sailed high.
 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Lyndse Hokanson
 
"I mean, what is there to say? Gritty, resilient team performance. From back to front, our group hung in and found a way, even when there were stretches of the game that they were really on the front foot. Our first goal probably came a bit against the run of play, but just an unbelievable spell of play capped off by a wonderful finish by Ellie in front of her hometown fans. We weathered pressure, and our backline and GK did really well to manage DeSmit, who is a special player and can change a game at a moment. Players stepped up and did their job today and that is what makes me most proud. Such a complete team performance and victory. The team was excited to come back after feeling as though our last result here was disappointing. Nice to get a chance to turn the tides on that and most importantly to extend our season and time together. I'm a proud coach today and excited for the next challenge for our team on Thursday at Army."
 
UP NEXT
The Raiders head to West Point, N.Y., to take on the Black Knights Thursday at 5 p.m. A win would advance Colgate to the championship game Sunday at the winner of the other semifinal contest between No. 4 Boston University and No. 2 Bucknell.