Southern Illinois University
0-5-3, 0-4-3
Illinois State University
4-5-0, 4-3-0
Illinois State top Salukis, 3-0
04/03/2021 | 10:14:00 | Women's Soccer
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois University women's soccer team dropped to the Redbirds of Illinois State, 0-3, on Saturday night for the final home game of the spring 2020-21 season inside Lew Hartzog Complex in Carbondale. Sophomore keeper Maddy Alaluf garnered her seventh start of the season and accumulated nine saves while defending the Saluki net for the full 90 minute match.
"I'm really proud of our kids performance tonight, I think anybody who watched the game would know that the margin between us and them [Illinois State] is not three goals, but that's what the scoreline reads." said head coach Grant Williams. "I felt two of those goals came against the run of play, but thats the way that the game goes. If you look at where we are in the growth and development in our program, from the first game to where we are now -- that was a good performance and we should be encouraged."
In a midfield-heavy match, Illinois State accumulated their first goal at the 15-minute mark with a long shot from the left by senior Sarah LaFayette from the cross by junior Shaina Dudas. The Redbirds gained another point on the board with a close goal bouncing off one post to the other in the net from the foot of Dudas with the assist from senior Abby Basler with 32:12 on the clock.
In the final 45 minutes of the match, the final scoring from Illinois State came off the Redbird corner at 49 minutes by junior Riley O'Brien, from the pass by freshman Ashlee Bakaitis.
With her fourth start this season, sophomore defender Katy Quinn was prominent for the Salukis in blocking, playing in 73 minutes of the match and while being a utility, senior defender Kathryn Creedon was seen in blocks in the back, while accumulating a shot on the offensive side.
With a quick turnaround to Wednesday, Williams sees this Illinois State match-up as a learning opportunity.
"By the second goal, everyone was really playing with a chip on their shoulder. There were some individual performances that started to win their individual battles. Winning is something that you learn how to do, and there are still some things we need to grow into, but tonight was a step in the right direction."
The Salukis play in their final game of the Spring 2020-21 season in midweek fashion, on Wednesday, April 7 in Springfield, Mo., taking on Missouri State at 6pm.
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Team Stats
Sarah Lafayette (2)
Assisted By: Shaina Dudas
GOAL by ISU Lafayette, Sarah Assist by Dudas, Shaina.
15:11
Shaina Dudas (2)
Assisted By: Abby Basler
GOAL by ISU Dudas, Shaina Assist by Basler, Abby.
32:45
Riley O'Brien (2)
Assisted By: Ashlee Bakaitis
GOAL by ISU O'Brien, Riley Assist by Bakaitis, Ashlee.
49:32
