NORMAL, Ill. - Sophomore forward Ammanda Wisniewski broke into the scoring column for the 2007 season in a big way against Central Michigan on Friday, September 7. Wisniewski recorded the fourth hat trick in Illinois State soccer history to lead the Redbirds (3-0-0) past the Chippewas (1-2-0), 3-0.
Wisniewski, who had yet to score this season, became just the fourth player to notch a hat trick, the first since Annie Wayland did it in 2000. She tied the school record for both goals (three) and points (six) in a game, while moving into the team lead in both categories for the season.
"It feels great to get a hat trick," Wisniewski said. "Our coaches have been talking about putting teams away because our games so far have been within a goal or two. Shutting Central Michigan out, 3-0, is a good, solid win."
Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Grill-Donovan made a career-high eight saves for her second shutout of the season. She was tested early and often by the Chippewas, who outshot the Redbirds, 15-8, in the game. Grill-Donovan stopped many Central Michigan attacks, including one in the first three minutes of the game when a Central Michigan forward broke free in front of the net and took a shot from close range. Grill-Donovan was able to deflect it off the cross bar and sophomore defender Amy Heredia cleared it.
Senior midfielder Yvonne Northover assisted on the first two goals for the Redbirds and senior defender Amanda Lauber assisted the last. Northover has recorded points in back-to-back games. Lauber's assist was her first since last year against Missouri State.
"Ammanda coming through with three goals today was huge," head coach Drew Roff said. "Sometimes you need special players to make big plays. One thing we did very well today was finish. Central Michigan is a very big, physical team, but we adjusted to them and we had some players come in and contribute. Our defense did a great job because at certain points they bent, but they did not break. Central Michigan was trying to play balls over them, but they were able to recognize that and start to win more headers as the game went on."
Wisniewski's first goal came in the 27th minute when she took a feed from Northover on the left side and lofted a shot over the Central Michigan goalie into the far corner of the net. The Redbirds held onto that 1-0 lead until the second half when Wisniewski struck again. Northover set up the goal again as freshman midfielder Bethany Brown tapped the ball back to her and she fed it through the middle to Wisniewski. The forward used a spin move to get around a defender and blasted a shot into the right side of the goal.
Wisniewski finished off the record-setting afternoon in the 74th minute. On a corner kick, Northover tapped the ball into Lauber, who drove in towards the goal along the end line. Lauber played the ball into the middle from just inside the penalty box and Wisniewski one-timed it into the back of the net.
The win snapped a four-game winless streak for the Redbirds against Central Michigan and was the first time in the series they scored multiple goals in a game. ISU has not been scored on at home this season and is 3-0-0 to start the season for the first time since 2004.
The Redbirds visits Western Illinois on Friday, September 14, at 4 p.m.
