Central Michigan earned their third straight win Friday by downing the Redbirds, 1-0, on a penalty kick in overtime. The game was Illinois States final nonconference matchup before getting into the heart of the Missouri Valley Conference season.
According to Redbird coach Pete Kowall, his team had good chances but they just couldnt connect.
We had enough chances we just cant score goals. We had seven or eight good chances, Kowall said, and we work on shooting everyday. Youre either good at or you need to work more at it. We need to work more at it. Its a bump in the road that we just cant get over. Weve got to keep working and improve this week since we have a week off.
The game was nip and tuck the whole way. Each time the Redbirds would drive downfield Central Michigan would counter and vice versa, keeping the game scoreless and sending it to overtime. Overtime was anticipated from the start, as the teams entered the game with identical records and each had played in numerous overtime bouts this season.
The Birds were called for a foul in the box 4:55 into the overtime period, setting up a Central Michigan penalty kick. Forward Stacy Downing scored the only goal of the contest on the PK to finish off Illinois State. Downing earned her fourth goal of the season on the penalty kick. Freshman goalkeeper Anne Decker got her third shutout with the win.
Illinois State falls to 4-4-2. The Birds have a week off before hosting conference rival Evansville at
3 p.m. on Friday, October 10 at Adelaide Street Field.
