YPSILANTI, Mich. - Freshman Rachel Tejada scored all three goals to lead the Illinois State soccer team (5-3-0) past Eastern Michigan (0-6-1) Friday afternoon in Ypsilanti, Mich. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Aryn Newsom recorded a career-high nine saves to secure her first-career shutout.
Tejada put ISU in front, 1-0, in the 30th minute by finishing a pair of passes from senior Jessica Carlson and fellow freshman Aimee Wronski. Tejada's shot from the top, right side of the 18-yard box was true for her 10th goal of the season and Wronski was credited with her first-career assist.
"We didn't quite get out to as strong a start as I would have hoped," head coach Drew Roff said. "Our back line and our front line was giving Eastern Michigan a little too much time and space, but we were able to get a goal that gave us some momentum heading into halftime."
Carlson and Tejada connected once again in the 63rd minute to double Illinois State's advantage. Carlson slipped a ball past a pair of defenders from close range and Tejada was on the other end to put it in the back of the net.
The freshman forward completed her second hat trick of the season in the 84th minute on yet another assist by Carlson. Tejada received the pass from Carlson at the penalty kick spot and buried it into the top, right corner of the net for her 12th goal and 28th point of the season. Freshman Keri Kujawa was also given an assist on the play for her second of the season.
"To be honest, we didn't have our best day and I thought we played a little slow, but Jessica and Rachel were able to combine on three, really nice goals," Roff said. "We were able to take advantage of the opportunities we were given and it is always nice to get a shutout."
Illinois State tied three single-game school records in the victory. Tejada's three goals and Carlson's trio of assists tied record marks and the Redbirds' five total assists also matched a school record, and was the second time this season that ISU has recorded five assists in a match.
Newsom made nine saves, including seven in the second half to give ISU its second shutout of the season. Tejada scored her three goals on a team-high six shots and sophomore Anna Stinson added five shots, including three on goal.
"Aryn [Newsom] made a couple of big saves that provided us with a bit of a spark," Roff said. "She made a spectacular diving save that got the rest of our players fired up a little bit and Natalie McCabe was very good in the back. She was able to stop a lot of Eastern Michigan's chances on their counter attack and was one of the bright spots for us."
Illinois State will wrap up its weekend in Michigan with a 10 a.m. contest with Western Michigan in Kalamazoo Sunday morning.
"Our speed of play has to get faster against Western Michigan on Sunday," Roff said. "We are still waiting to put together 90 minutes of quality soccer that we have been searching for and our goal is to get that before conference play begins. We are pleased with today's result and we will certainly take it, but we still think we can play a better 90 minutes."
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