Nov. 2, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
After posting two shutouts last week, the Illinois State women's soccer team is riding high heading into Omaha, Neb., for the semifinals of the State Farm MVC Women's Soccer Championship. Entering the 5 p.m. Friday match on a three-game winning streak, the Redbirds will face No. 1 seed Drake, who defeated the `Birds 1-0 earlier this season.
These three wins, all which came by way of shutouts are the most the team has strung together all season as the Redbirds hope to continue that streak in Omaha. Defeating both Eastern Illinois and Indiana State in a 1-0 fashion last week, Illinois State head coach Pete Kowall feels that his team has regained the momentum they need to break into the tournament finals.
"It's tournament time so anything can happen," said Kowall. "Drake is a very good team but I have the confidence in my team. We're playing really well right now and we are all looking forward to the challenge on Friday night."
In the teams' previous meeting in Normal, Ill., on September 30, Drake defeated the Redbirds 1-0. Scoring early in the game (13:31), the Bulldogs held on to an early lead to hand the `Birds their first conference loss of the 2005 season. Illinois State had yet to defeat Drake, as the Valley rival boasts a 4-0-1 series lead.
"Drake is going to look different than they were the first time we met them," Kowall continued. "Some of their injured players have returned, players we didn't see in the first game. Also, some of the players they did have are now injured. Regardless, Drake is a very tactically sound team and are very good defensively. They are going to be hard to break down but that is what we have been working on in practice. If we can play our `A' game, which I anticipate, we can stay in the game with them. Like I said, anything can happen and this neutral game site is also good for us."
The meeting on Friday may remind many of last year's semifinal matchup and for good reason. In 2004, a No. 4 seed Illinois State met a No. 1 seed, tournament host Drake in the semifinals. This season the Redbirds once again received the No. 4 seed, as their opponent ended the regular season again ranked first. However, the `Birds are looking for a different result this year, as the Bulldogs defeated the Redbirds 2-1 in a single-overtime game in 2004.
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