The Illinois State soccer team started their 2019 season on a high note, defeating SIUE 3-0 in exhibition on Saturday afternoon. The Redbirds and Cougars faced off in a scrimmage consisting of three 30-minute periods in front of the third-largest crowd at a Redbird soccer event in program history.
Junior Abby Basler opened the scoring in the first period for the 'Birds, with freshmen Katherine Felton and Allison Baker adding on in the third period. Goalkeepers Haley Smith, Priya Gillan, and Jenny Scara all combined for five saves in the shutout.
"We were definitely able to get what we wanted out of the exhibition today," said head coach Brad Silvey. "Obviously the win and the shutout are exciting for our program going forward. It was great to be able to get our entire roster out on the field and see what they could do."
The 'Birds took the lead in the 30th minute, right before the end of the first period, when junior Ashley Santos rocketed a shot off the crossbar. Basler pounced on the rebound, slotting it into the bottom right corner past the Cougar goalkeeper.
Felton's goal was the result of a pass into the box by senior Brittany Paganucci in the 70th minute. Felton jumped on the ball and sent it to the lower left corner to tally her first goal at Adelaide Street Field.
The Redbirds rounded out their scoring for the day with a dazzling freshman-to-freshman combination in the 78th minute to make it 3-0. Midfielder Katharine Ashley sent a pass behind her from the top of the box to a waiting Baker. Baker then launched the ball just out of the goalkeeper's reach to the top left corner.
"In terms of control and how we wanted to execute on the field, we shined in both the first and the third periods," said Silvey. "There was a little bit of dip in performance during the second period but I'm proud of our response going into the third period. It was exciting to see our team receive some coaching and criticism and go back out and net two goals to finish the game."
As a team, Illinois State outshot SIUE 16-8, placing nine of those 16 shots on goal. Senior Kate Del Fava led the squad with five shots, forcing starting Cougar goalkeeper Bella Henderson to make three impressive saves in the first 30 minutes of play.
NEXT UP: Illinois State travels to Indianapolis, Indiana on Wednesday to take on Butler in their final exhibition match of the season.
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