NORMAL, Ill. - Snapping its first winning streak of the season, the Illinois State women's soccer team couldn't put a shot into the net in a non-conference contest, falling to Eastern Illinois, 1-0, Thursday afternoon at a rainy and cold Adelaide Street Field.
With the loss, the Redbirds finish the final regular-season with a 6-8-3 record, 2-3-1 in the Valley. The Panthers improve to 7-6-5, 4-1-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Neither team scored in the first half, though the `Birds outshot the Panthers, 11-2, in the first 45-minutes. Senior goalkeeper Andrea Shaw started the game and played to the half, tallying a pair of saves.
Just after the half (50:52), Eastern Illinois was awarded a penalty kick in the near north corner. Panther defender Jenny Bock stepped out to take the kick, booting the ball to the center of the 25-yard box. Midfielder Alexis Miller gathered the ball and took a shot that hit off the post back into the group standing in front of the net. Junior forward Michelle Steinhaus collected the ball, taking a shot that flew low past second-half Redbird goalkeeper Katie Grill-Donovan. The Panthers took the lead, 1-0, and held on for the final score.
Grill-Donovan recorded two saves on the afternoon, as well as the decision in goal for the `Birds.
Illinois State was led by sophomore Mel Routledge who took five shots, three of which were on goal. Juniors Kanisha Campbell and Yvonne Northover each took three shots, adding to the Redbird total of 20. Eastern Illinois only took eight shots in the contest, five of which were on goal.
Returning to Adelaide Street Field on Sunday, the Redbirds will host Missouri State in the first round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Gametime is scheduled for noon and the winner of the play-in game advances to the semi-finals of tournament in Omaha, Neb., Nov. 3-5.
