NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State head women's soccer coach Pete Kowall knows his strategy is simple, but as his team enters the second week of the 2006 season with games against Northern Illinois at home on Friday and at Central Michigan on Sunday, he feels that they must simply play better soccer.
"As simple as it is, we just need to play better on both ends of the field," said Kowall. "We need to shore up in the back what we're currently doing and finish our chances in goal. It's as simple as it can be and that is how we are practicing right now. I think we are training well and the players are starting to understand what they need to improve upon to get a win. It is still early in the season, but we are working on everyone being on the same page."
Friday's 4 p.m. game between the Redbirds and the Huskies will be the third game of the 2006 season for both teams, and Illinois State's second home game at Adelaide Street Field. Northern Illinois comes in with a 1-1-0 record, with a win over Eastern Washington and a loss to South Dakota State last week. The Redbirds have yet to find a win this season, as they went 0-1-1 in the opening week, with a loss to UW-Green Bay and a double-overtime tie with Ball State.
Friday's game marks the 10th meeting in the ISU-NIU series. The Redbirds own a 5-3-1 advantage in the series, with Northern Illinois winning only the first three games in 1996-1998. In the last matchup between the teams, Illinois State and Northern Illinois dueled to a double-overtime draw in DeKalb, Ill., on September 18, 2005. Former Redbird Heather Forsyth scored the `Birds' lone goal and Shannon Duggan was credited with the assist.
Sunday's game will feature the `Birds and the Central Michigan Chippewas. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. in Mount Pleasant, Mich., at the CMU soccer complex.
Illinois State opened the 2005 season with a double-overtime tie against Central Michigan on August 26. ISU senior Meghan Boler scored the only Redbird goal off a penalty kick in the second period. The Chippewas lead the all-time series, 2-1-1, as the `Birds only victory over CMU was in 2000.
"This weekend is another step in the right direction and I'm encouraged," Kowall continued. "Both Northern Illinois and Central Michigan will give us very good games. They are well-coached teams that will come out and fight."
