Aug. 14, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
Gray skies and rain predicted the outcome of the first pre-season game for the Illinois State women's soccer team. The Redbirds fell to Eclipse Select, 0-1, Sunday at Adelaide Street Field.
Playing shortened 40-minute halves, instead of the typical 45 minutes, the teams battled out the `Birds first of three preseason scrimmages in the persistent rain. The lone goal scored on the day was by Eclipse's Brittany Potts as she found the net against Redbird goalie Erica Goethel, just seven minutes into the first half.
Redbird head coach Pete Kowall was impressed by the level of competition that Eclipse provided in the first scrimmage.
"They were a very good team," Kowall said. "They're competitiveness and aggressive style of play was what we needed to see today."
Kowall went on to comment on the start to the 2005 season.
"This was a really good start for our team," Kowall said. "It is still too early for us to tell who will be starting or playing a lot of minutes this season but it was a great way for us to get film. We will be able to see what mistakes we are making and what we are doing well tactfully on the field."
The Redbirds out-shot Eclipse Select 15-7, 6-1 in the second half. Illinois State freshman Mel Routledge took three of those shots. Routledge, in her first game in a collegiate uniform, was the only freshman to start for the `Birds in the exhibition game.
The weather wasn't the only disappointment in the `Birds first matchup of the 2005 season. With 16:06 left to go in the first half, Goethel went down with an undisclosed injury and would never return to the game. Senior captain Heather Forsyth took Goethel's place in the goal.
This was just the first game back for Forsyth, who spent the end of last season on the injured list. She broke her leg in the October 17, 2004 game against Creighton and sat out the remainder last season.
Forsyth has been tabbed the roster's lone "wildcard" in that Kowall doesn't know exactly where she will be playing this season.
"Heather is the one player for us that can play just about anywhere," said Kowall. "Once she gets re-acclimated with the field and with her teammates, we will see where she will work best for our team. Just having her back on our roster will definitely benefit our team."
Illinois State will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., Wednesday, for the team's second exhibition game of the season against Butler. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
- ### -
