DES MOINES, Iowa - Junior goalkeeper Erica Goethel stopped both a penalty kick and a break-away goal attempt, as the Illinois State women's soccer team dueled to a double-overtime, scoreless tie with the Drake Bulldogs, Thursday night in Des Moines, Iowa. With the 0-0 tie, Goethel and the `Birds are still looking for their first conference victory of the season, moving to 3-5-3 on the year, 0-1-1 in the Valley.
Drake's record goes to 6-5-2 overall, 1-0-1 in MVC action, as the Bulldogs maintained the undefeated all-time series record with ISU. The ISU-DU all-time slate moves to 5-0-2.
Stifling defense was the strategy used by both squads in the first half, as Illinois State and Drake took a total of five shots in the first 45 minutes. The Bulldogs took three shots, two of which were on goal, while the `Birds booted a pair of shots. Each team took a single corner kick in the first half.
Drake's only real opportunity to score in the first half came at the 36:51 mark, as a Bulldog was fouled inside the six-yard box and awarded a penalty kick. Drake senior Danielle Oswald took the penalty shot in front of the Redbird goal but was denied by Goethel, who dove to her left for the save.
Illinois State head coach Pete Kowall was impressed with the play of his defense, including the outstanding performance by Goethel.
"I thought it was a good game, definitely back and forth a little bit," said Kowall. "We had a couple good chances in the first half. We started out slow but solved some spacing issues and created some combinational play. The team got some crosses but just didn't finish them. In games like this, you are only going to get about four good, solid chances.
"I was really proud of Erica to keep a clean sheet and not allow any goals against Drake," continued Kowall. "It was made even more impressive by the fact we were on the road and especially in this league with the quality teams we play."
Illinois State's true first-half goal opportunity came just before the half, with less than a minute to play, as freshman Raquel Rattray stole the ball from a Bulldog midfielder, taking the ball from the center circle towards the Drake goal. Meeting a Drake defender at the 18-yard box, Rattray passed off to Redbird defender Sheila Sarsfiled who was trailing Rattray. Illinois State could not convert the goal, as the teams entered the half tied at 0-0.
The second half started much the same way, though Illinois State matched its first-half shot total with a pair of shots just five minutes into the second half.
Drake came on strong late in the second half, putting consistent pressure on Goethel and the Illinois State defense. However, neither team found the back of the net in regulation, as the game went into the first 10-minute overtime period. Drake took six shots, and five corner kicks in the second half, compared to four ISU shots and just a single corner kick.
In the first overtime, Drake took three shots but none counted for a score. Illinois State did not take a single shot as the game entered its second overtime period.
The Redbirds fought back with a pair of shots in the second overtime from freshman Ammanda Wisniewski, though neither went past Drake goalkeeper Jenny Schroeder as the double-overtime match ended in a scoreless tie. Goethel, who played all 110 minutes in goal for ISU, recorded the shutout, as well as notching four saves on the night.
Illinois State continues its final road trip of the regular season, traveling to Creighton to take on the Bluejays at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Omaha, Neb.
"We're hoping to take some defensive momentum from this game into Saturday's game with Creighton," said Kowall. "Some of our defenders got some extra playing time tonight, including some of our freshmen and we're looking to transfer that into the remaining Valley contests."
