NORMAL, Ill. - The offensive pressure was there for the Illinois State soccer team against Butler (4-5-0) Sunday afternoon, just as it had been in previous games, but the Redbirds were finally able to turn it into a victory , beating the Bulldogs, 2-0, to snap a six-game winless streak. Illinois State (4-5-1) controlled the offensive flow throughout the game, while senior Mel Routledge and junior Raquel Rattray provided the scores.
Rattray scored the first goal for ISU, which proved to be the game-winner. It was her second goal of the season, the most she has had in a year at ISU. Routledge tallied her team-leading third goal of the season to move into second place on the Illinois State all-time points list with 41. The goal also put her in a tie for third place on the all-time goals list with 16; just one goal shy of second place.
Freshman Sasha Reiber made her first-career start in goal and continued the stellar play she had to close out the game against Western Illinois. She made two saves to record the first shutout of her career.
"I thought this was the best 90 minutes of soccer we have played all season," said head coach Drew Roff. "We were more dangerous on offense and our defense really played well. We had plenty of opportunities on offense and came through with a goal in the first half. Once we had that first score, I really wanted to make sure we stayed aggressive and added another to keep Butler from being able to tie it with one good run."
The Redbirds were on the offensive attack from the opening whistle. They appeared to be a little too eager, in fact, as the Redbirds were called for four offsides penalties in the first seven minutes. ISU continued to apply pressure and started to put some shots on Butler goalkeeper Laura Baker, including two headers by junior Danielle Mutters off corner kicks.
Routledge was extremely active on the offensive side. She was breaking down Butler defenders and putting the ball on goal throughout the first half. She made a run in the 29th minute, putting a shot on goal that Baker defended. She then got a foot on the rebound and sent a shot high.
In the 35th minute, sophomore Ruthie Zemke took a pass from redshirt freshman Nicole Russell with a wide open path to the net, but she took a shot directly at Baker, who slid and knocked the ball away. It wasn't until the 40th minute when ISU put a tally on the scoreboard. There was a loose ball in the box that freshman Mary Sahm played back to Rattray. The Redbird captain came up and blasted a shot from just outside of the penalty box to the upper right side of the net to give ISU a 1-0 lead.
The Redbirds dominated play in the first half, outshooting the Bulldogs, 14-0, and holding an edge in corner kicks, 5-0.
ISU added another goal three minutes into the second half. Junior Ammanda Wisniewski lofted a pass into the ISU zone from midfield and Routledge was able to corral the ball. She drove toward the goal with two Butler defenders close behind her, went deep into the box and sent a shot across the goal to just inside the far post for the score.
Freshman Katrina Jakobsze nearly added another goal when she had a wide open header right in front of the net off a cross, but it flew high. Butler recorded its first shot in the 52nd minute when Molly Kruger broke through the middle, but Reiber came up with a sliding save to preserve the shutout. Jakobsze had another chance to score in the 55th minute. She took a shot right in front of the net that Baker saved, but couldn't hold onto. The ball came loose and Jakobsze tried to tuck it inside of the post, but had a tough angle and the ball hit the outside of the net.
ISU closes out its homestand Wednesday against Morehead State at 4 p.m.
