NORMAL, Ill. - For the first time since Sept. 2007, the Illinois State women's soccer team lost a match at Adelaide Street Field. Eastern Michigan prevailed, 1-0, over the Redbirds on a successful penalty kick from the foot of Stephanie Janssens.
Despite outshooting the Eagles 13-3, Illinois State was unable to put a ball past EMU keeper Monique Budani and keep their 18-match home unbeaten streak alive. The Redbirds saw several shots sail just over the crossbar, wide of the goal or end up in the hands of the senior goalkeeper.
"I thought they (Eastern Michigan) was well organized defensively," head coach Drew Roff said. "Their midfield was athletic, they won a lot of those battles and were quicker to the ball in the middle of the park. I give Eastern a lot of credit. They came in, they did what they had to do, they defended well and they only had a couple opportunities, but they capitalized on one."
Janssens' game-winner came in the seventh minute after the Eagles were awarded a penalty kick, following a foul on Maggie Christensen inside the 18-yard box. ISU goalkeeper Mara Kremenovic came off her line to prevent an easy goal for Christensen and was whistled for the foul.
"We are pressing a little bit and we are frustrated because we can't score goals," Roff said. "We have a lot of players that are capable of scoring goals, but it's just not happening."
Junior forward Jessica Carlson led Illinois State with five shots, while freshman forward Kyla Cross finished the match with three shot attempts. The Redbird defense was impressive, limiting Eastern Michigan to only three shots.
With the loss, Illinois State falls to 1-2-0 on the 2010 campaign and will return to their home pitch Sunday against DePaul at 1 p.m. EMU improves to 1-0-1 and will continue their road trip through Illinois, when they take on Eastern Illinois, Sunday.
"DePaul is going to be fast in the midfield," Roff said. "They are going to bring an athletic presence in the middle of the park and we are going to have to figure how out to deal with that. Sunday we have to bounce back. Win, lose or draw, we need a better performance. It is going to be tough, but I think we will come back and play better."
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