The Illinois State womens soccer team downed Southwest Missouri State 2-0 Sunday in a Missouri Valley Conference match-up. The Redbirds are unbeaten in Valley play at 5-0 and up their overall record to 8-4-2.
This is a big win for us, head coach Pete Kowall said, and now we get to have two (conference) games at home.
One goal is all the Birds needed to put the Bears to sleep and Heather Forsyth was the player that was able to break the game open. Forsyth, a native of Burlington, Ontario, scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick, the result of sophomore Joyce Kleinheinz being fouled in the box. Forsyths goal gives her three on the season, which ties her with teammate Michelle Brumbaugh for the lead in goals scored. It was the junior defenders third game-winning goal this season.
Forsyth goal was key but she would later have to sit out due to injury.
Heather got banged up today and we had to take her out near the end of the game, so were concerned about that, Kowall said.
But the Birds were able to score again as junior Lauren Kahlenbeck recorded the first goal of her collegiate career in the 60th minute of play in the second half.
Lauren had a beautiful goal, Kowall said. She dribbled through three or four defenders and was able to score. It was great.
Illinois States defense remained consistent holding SMS to just five shots the whole game and not allowing a shot on goal in the first half. Goalkeeper Allison Farrington earned the shutout for the Birds, her eighth of the season. She has already tallied more shutouts than she did all last season.
Illinois State will host Creighton on Friday at 3 p.m and then they will square off with the Drake Bulldogs, who also own a 5-0 valley record, at noon on Sunday in a game that could potentially decide the regular season conference champion.
