GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Illinois State soccer team opened its 2011 preseason slate with a 2-0 shutout victory over host Green Bay Wednesday afternoon at Aldo Santaga Stadium in Green Bay, Wis.
ISU applied pressure early and often and got the first goal of the match from junior Rachel Bostick. Bostick put the Redbirds in front in the 28th minute, heading in a corner kick service from senior Jessica Carlson.
"We started out a little slow, but we settled in after the first 15 minutes and got a great goal," head coach Drew Roff said. "Rachel's goal inspired us a little bit and relaxed us. It was a perfectly placed cross from Jess and Rachel buried it. When that play is executed properly, it is very difficult to stop and it was great to get a goal off a restart."
Freshman Aimee Wronski added an insurance goal in the 39th minute, blasting a shot from 20 yards out into the upper left corner of the goal. The Illinois State defense preserved the shutout, limiting the Phoenix to very few offensive opportunities, as redshirt freshman Aryn Newsom earned the clean sheet in goal.
"Later in the half, we did a much better job of possessing the ball and using the space out wide and the result was a great goal from Aimee," Roff said. "She hit it well from 20 yards out and the goalkeeper didn't have much of a chance. It was nice for her to get her first goal as a Redbird, even though it was in an exhibition contest. We had a lot of players get opportunities to come in and play and they held their own. It is a good start and we are looking to cleaning up a few things for Sunday."
ISU will wrap up its preseason schedule with a home match against IUPUI, Sunday, at Adelaide Street Field. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m.
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