NORMAL, Ill. - After weeks of practice and two exhibition contests, the time is finally here for the Illinois State women's soccer team to kick off its regular season. The `Birds will travel to UW-Green Bay on Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Phoenix, before returning to Adelaide Street Field on Sunday for a meeting with Ball State.
Illinois State head coach Pete Kowall was impressed with his team's play in the preseason, as Illinois State won over Butler (2-1) and settled in a double-overtime tie (2-2) with UW-Milwaukee. Kowall, along with the entire Redbird squad, is looking to carry that success into the regular season.
"Our exhibition games really gave us a different look," said Kowall. "We got a lot out of each exhibition game and it's time to bring that into the games we are about to play. The team made several improvements after watching some film and we look to continue that success into this weekend."
Friday's game will be the season opener for both ISU and UW-Green Bay, though both have played two pre-season scrimmages. The Phoenix, like the `Birds, posted a win and a tie in the pre-season. UW-Green Bay was victorious over UW-Parkside, 2-1, and battled to a 0-0 draw with in-state foe, Wisconsin.
This will be the 10th meeting in the ISU-UWGB series, with Illinois State owning a 7-2-0 advantage. Since ISU introduced women's soccer in 1996, the only year the teams didn't meet was 2004. Wisconsin-Green Bay's two wins were in 1996 and 1997. In the last game between the pair, Illinois State beat the Phoenix in Normal, 4-2, on August 28, 2005. Redbird sophomore Mel Routledge scored two goals in the game to pace the `Birds, while senior captain Meghan Boler tallied a pair of assists.
The `Birds will return home on Sunday to take on the Cardinals of Ball State at noon. Illinois State is undefeated against Ball State, leading the all-time series, 4-0-0. In last year's meeting, the Redbirds defeated the Cardinals, 1-0, in Muncie, Ind., on Sept. 2. Routledge scored the only goal of the game, on an assist from Bethany Russ.
"Both games will be hard-fought battles," continued Kowall. "They are well-coached teams and although we got wins last year, we have to be ready to play."
