NORMAL, Ill. - Looking to gain another win on its home field, the Illinois State women's soccer team hosts Oakland at Adelaide Street Field on Friday, followed by a match at Dayton on Sunday.
Illinois State enters the weekend with a 1-2-1 record, picking up its only win of the 2006 season just one week ago at home over Northern Illinois. Freshman Ammanda Wisniewski scored both ISU goals, securing the victory and was subsequently named the Brine/Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
Illinois State looks to continue that success in Friday's 4 p.m. matchup against Oakland. Oakland, who played last weekend in the UNLV adidas Classic in Las Vegas, is 1-3-0 on the year, notching its only victory over Toledo on Aug. 27.
The Redbirds are undefeated against the Golden Grizzlies, owning a 3-0-0 all-time series record. The teams last met in 2004 in Rochester, Mich., where the `Birds defeated Oakland, 2-1, on goals from former Redbird Heather Forsyth and current senior captain Jaclyn Rucinsky. The only previous game to be held at Adelaide Street Field was in 2001, when ISU pulled away with a 3-1 victory.
Traveling to Dayton, Ohio, Sunday for a 10 a.m. meeting with the Flyers, the Redbirds seek to gain their first road win of the season. Likewise, Dayton has yet to post a win on the season, as the Flyers own a 0-1-2 overall record.
ISU and Dayton have only met once in each programs' history, Kowall's first year with the `Birds, 1997. The Flyers defeated the Redbirds, 2-1, in Normal, Ill.
Illinois State head coach Pete Kowall, who enters the weekend just one win shy of his 100th win at Illinois State, is not looking past either team based upon their records.
"Both Oakland and Dayton's results are mixed because they have played good, solid competition," said Kowall. "Just as our team is better than our record, they are too. Both opponents are skilled, tactical teams and we anticipate two good tests this weekend. We will enter the weekend ready to play hard and get better."
