NORMAL, Ill. - Senior Yvonne Northover scored the first two goals for the Redbirds (6-4-1, 2-0-0 MVC) who cruised past Northern Iowa (4-6-2, 0-1-1 MVC), 3-0, on Friday, Oct. 12. In their first night game of the season, the Redbirds had five players record points, the most of any game this season, to remain in first place in the Valley and avenge a 1-0 loss to UNI from last season.
Northover scored two goals within 10 minutes of each other to record the first multi-goal game of her career. Her first came in the 13th minute when senior Shannon Duggan crossed a ball from the left side and Northover headed it in for what proved to be the game-winner. In the 22nd minute, Northover played the ball to sophomore Ammanda Wisniewski, who then fed it back to Northover for the goal.
Northover now has three goals on the season and when combined with her six assists, puts her in second place on the team with 12 points. Her totals in assists and points are both career-highs.
The Redbird scoring was rounded out by senior Bethany Russ when she took a pass from sophomore Raquel Rattray and blasted a shot that went through the goalkeepers hands. Russ leads the Redbirds with six goals on the season, which have all come in the last seven games. She moves into a tie for fifth place on the ISU career goals list (13) and a tie for fifth place on the points list (33); joining teammate junior Mel Routledge in both categories.
"Yvonne had two really nice goals on two really nice assists," said head coach Drew Roff. "We were really focused on getting the shutout and not letting UNI get anything easy to get back into the game. We know that the third goal is crucial and Rocky (Rattray) had a great run through the middle for probably about 40 yards and she slotted a great ball to Bethany who took a touch and calmly tucked it away. I knew at that point that things were going our way."
Sophomore Katie Grill-Donovan made two saves and picked up her fourth shutout of the season; her second in the last three games. Illinois State leads the all-time series against Northern Iowa, 8-1, and seven of the wins have been shutouts.
Duggan's assist was her second in as many games, while Rattray's was her first of the season. Wisniewski's assist was her first point since recording a hat trick against Central Michigan in the third game of the year.
The Redbirds return home to face Creighton (6-5-1, 1-0-0 MVC) on Sunday, Oct. 14, at noon. The Bluejays are coming off an upset victory over Drake on Thursday, Oct. 11; which snapped the Bulldog's 18-game MVC unbeaten streak.
"When you get a road win, it says something good about your team," Roff said. "We know Creighton is going to probably be our most difficult test yet and they are playing well after knocking off Drake. It's going to be a very exciting match between two teams who are playing well."
