Stunned is how the Naperville Soccer Association (NSA) Lazers looked after the Illinois State womens soccer team got done with them on Saturday in a 12-1 exhibition decision at Adelaide Street Field.
The Lazers scored the first goal of the contest at 32:35, it would end up being their only goal of the game. Because then the Redbirds started the Illinois State scoring on a Crystal Lanski goal less than a minute later.
Hopefully our team will start to learn that we cant be motivated until the other team scores a goal, head coach Pete Kowall said. So a little step backward but two steps forward after that.
Junior Robyn Brady then scored at the 35:06 mark. She followed up her first goal with two more within minutes of each other. And before the first half was over, Michelle Brumbaugh would score two goals as well. Giving the Birds a 6-1 lead at halftime.
Illinois State continued to pound the ball down the field in the second half. Senior Sheila Bryant had the first goal of the half at the 53:34 mark, followed by Bradys final score of the game at 67:06.
Were still trying to get things sorted out from playing defense to midfield and forward, said Brady, who led the Birds with four goals and one assist. I think we played well, a lot better than we did on Wednesday night and there are definitely things we need to improve on. But all in all we should be beating this team by this much.
Then Lanski, who also had one assist, countered and scored on an assist from freshman Jaclyn Rucinsky. She then scored her third goal of the day about two minutes later. Senior Dana Schulte scored at the 86:03 mark followed by a Taylor Casement goal at 87:54 to round out the scoring.
I think our team responded well and we showed an enthusiasm that we didnt have on Wednesday night, Kowall said. We played better and people were cheering each other on and we finished our chances so that was good.
Illinois State will kick off the regular season at Wisconsin-Green Bay on Friday, August 29 at 7 p.m.
