Sophomore Jaclyn Rucinsky and the Illinois State womens soccer team tacked on a win today, 3-1 over the Panthers of Eastern Illinois. Rucinskys goal at 51:13 secured the win for the Birds.
The Birds, 4-3-0, came out strong in the first minutes of the game with an unassisted goal by Megan Boler. Boler stole a pass from the Eastern defense and nailed a shot from the left side. Boler recorded her first goal of the season.
With a whistle blown on the Birds for a penalty, Easterns Trisha Walter fired a penalty kick pushing the ball past Illinois State goal keeper Andrea Shaw tying the game 1-1 at the 18-minute mark.
Roby Brady fired back scoring at 42:32 from mid-field putting the Birds up by one when Rucinsky scored six minutes later to clinch the win for Illinois State. Rucinsky leads the Birds in goals with three on the season.
Both teams attempted 12 shots and five on-goal.
Today we played much more organized and took better shots, said head coach Pete Kowall. It was great that we came back from Easterns goal and scored two goals from Robyn and Jaclyn.
The Birds will return home to Adelaide Street Field after five road games to take on Illinois on Thursday Sept. 23 at 4 p.m.
