EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Illinois State women's soccer team scrapped and fought for a 1-0 victory over Evansville Saturday afternoon at Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville, Indiana. Nothing came easy for either team in a defensive struggle, but it was an unlikely hero who secured the win for the Redbirds.
Rarely, if ever, has ISU gone to the half with only one shot, but that's exactly what happened after the first 45 minutes Saturday. Evansville, a stingy defensive team, had not relinquished a goal in six-straight matches and over 600 minutes. For awhile, it appeared as if that streak might continue as the Redbirds struggled to get anything going offensively.
However, in the 60th minute ISU connected a series of crisp passes. Gabbi McArtor sent a pass forward along the left side for Hannah Leinert and Leinert pushed the ball towards the goal line. She sent a cross on the ground across the face of the goal and Kelli Zickert came up to knock it into the back of the net. The goal was the second of Zickert's career and her first game-winner.
The defense would hold for the final 30 minutes as the game's physicality and intensity picked up. The defensive unit spent the final ten minutes of the match sending clearances across midfield as Evansville picked up the pressure in hopes of an equalizer. It would not come and ISU secured it's fifth shutout of the season.
There was not much to speak of on the offensive end as both teams fired eight shots. However, the difference came in shots on goal as ISU had five while UE had just two. The only corner kick of the match belonged to the Redbirds. In the net, Aryn Newsom made two saves and the win was the 43rd of her career.
The Redbirds advance to 8-5 on the season and 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. ISU will now have a week off before traveling to Loyola next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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