NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's soccer team was topped by Saint Louis, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at Adelaide Street Field.
The Billikens (1-3 overall) struck first on a 28th-minute header that appeared to have been saved by redshirt junior Priya Gillan for the Redbirds (1-3 overall), but the officials ruled that the ball had fully crossed the plane of the goal line before Gillan made the stop.
ISU's best first-half chance came in the 37th minute on a set piece. Fifth-year senior Ashley Santos sent a ball to the back post that found the head of junior Allison Baker just three yards out, but the SLU keeper was able to make the save.
SLU started off the second half quickly, netting a 51st-minute goal to extend the advantage to 2-0.
Junior Katherine Felton created a chance in the 79th minute but her shot from 20 yards out sailed just wide left.
SLU outshoot ISU by a 17-9 margin.
Illinois State is scheduled to face Utah on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. CT.
QUOTES FROM FIFTH-YEAR HEAD COACH BRAD SILVEY
On team's response to SLU's first goal: "There are certain things in our control at the moment in time….We don't have any film review or technology on the goal so it is what it is….Our team has to be able to respond, internalize it, embrace it, and move forward. I think we did a pretty good job."
On team's defensive effort: "If we were gonna give up chances, they were going to be chance that we contested, were competed for in every single moment….I thought we defended well. What we needed to do better was—after we defended well—we needed to transition better, we needed to counterattack better, and be more composed to link plays to break their pressure so we could actually build our numbers forward and create more shots for us."
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