NORMAL, Ill. - There may be nothing more important to a successful season then getting started on the right foot and the Illinois State women's soccer team has done just that. With a pair of victories last weekend, the Redbirds are 2-0-0 to start the season for the first time since 2004 and looking to continue that momentum on Friday, September 7, when Central Michigan makes a visit to Adelaide Street Field at 3:30 p.m.
Routledge Honored By Valley Junior forward Mel Routledge was named the Brine Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week on September 4, the first honor of her career. Routledge leads the Valley with seven points and three goals. The Calgary, Alberta native scored both of ISU's goals against UW-Green Bay, the first multi-goal game of her career, and added a goal and an assist against Valparaiso. She moved into fifth place on the school's all-time goals list (13).
Grill-Donovan Off to a Good Start Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Grill-Donovan is in her first season as the Redbird starter and is keying a stingy Redbird defense. In her first-career start against UW-Green Bay, Grill-Donovan earned her very first shutout, but she didn't need to make a save to achieve it. Against Valparaiso, she had some more action, tying her career-high with two saves in the win.
The Redbirds-Chippewas Series Central Michigan leads the all-time series against Illinois State 3-1-1. After beat Central Michigan, 1-0, in their first meeting in 2000, Illinois State has failed to record a victory in the last four games. The Redbirds have never scored multiple goals against the Chippewas.
A Closer Look at the Chippewas Central Michigan split its season-opening trip to North Carolina last weekend. The Chippewas blanked Elon, 4-0, and then lost to UNC-Greensboro, 2-0. They have eight new starters, including three freshmen. Sophomore Stephanie Martin led the Chippewas in scoring in 2006, recording 22 points on nine goals and four assists. The Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year led the conference in goals and was tied for the lead in points. She has a goal and an assist so far in 2007.
