NORMAL, Ill. - Three goals in a six-minute span, with a pair coming from senior Meghan Boler, enabled the Illinois State women's soccer team to blank North Dakota State, 3-0, in a non-conference matchup Friday afternoon at Adelaide Street Field.
The `Birds improve to 5-7-3 on the year, winning the last two of their three games. The Bison, coached by former Redbird assistant Pete Cuadrado, move to 8-6-1 on the season.
ISU head coach Pete Kowall believes that his team's new mindset has helped with their recent success.
"We've really talked about starting all over again, and putting the first part of this season behind us," said Kowall. "I think Sunday's win over Indiana State and Meghan's (Boler) goal in that win helped to propel us into today. We really took advantage of our opportunities today and put them away early."
Illinois State's trio of goals all game in the first half, as Boler started ISU off in the 16th minute. The forward trapped a deflected pass from a Redbird midfielder, settling the ball and firing a high shot from 25 yards out. Boler's shot passed the out-stretched arms of North Dakota State goalie Monica Morgan and sailed into the back of the net. Her unassisted goal gave the Redbirds' an early 1-0 lead.
Taking cue from Boler, junior midfielder Yvonne Northover received a pass from freshman Ammanda Wisniewski in the 21st minute, set up by a throw-in from ISU's Shannon Eccleston. Northover attacked the goal, where she was met inside the box by Morgan. Northover chipped a shot over the NDSU goalie as the ball trickled into the goal for the second Illinois State score. The goal by Northover was her first on the year, as was the assist by Wisniewski.
Then, just 46 seconds later (22:01) Bethany Russ dished a spot ball from the right side of the field to Boler on the opposite side of the goal. Boler received the pass a put a low shot to the near post for the third ISU goal of the game. The goal was the second of the day for Boler and her third of the season. With three goals and five assists in 2006, the senior jumped into first place on the team with 11 total points.
Illinois State's three first-half goals were the most the `Birds have scored in the first half all season, though the team scored three second-half goals in a Sept. 16 win over IPFW.
Redbird goalie Andrea Shaw carded the shutout, notching 75 minutes in goal. She recorded four saves on the day, as her record improves to 4-2-1. Freshman goalkeeper Katie Grill-Donovan took over in the 75th minute for Shaw, tabbing a single save in the win.
The `Birds were led by Boler and Mel Routledge, who each took four shots on the afternoon. Three of Routledge's shots were on goal. Illinois State dominated in shots, 15-10, but were out-cornered as North Dakota State took 7 corner kicks, while ISU only took two.
"I just hope to take the same intensity, the same shot selection, into Sunday's game with Missouri State," said Kowall. "Meghan's first goal today helped to prove that we can shoot from distance. We need to continue to do that to earn another win over a team like Missouri State."
Returning to action on Sunday, the Redbirds host MSU in the teams' final Missouri Valley Conference regular-season matchup. The `Birds and the Bears will kick off at 12 p.m., with Senior Day festivities being held prior to the game. The annual Heidecke Day memorial will take place post-game at Adelaide Street Field.
