By Michael Belmont & Gargoyle sports staff

Posted Monday, April 30, 2007, The OG, girls soccer & sports

NORMAL — After starting the season 0-3-1, the Illineks had gone 4-2 since April 12. As they headed into weekend play, they were one victory away from bringing their record up to .500.

But that win would have to wait as Uni drew with East Central Illinois Conference opponent Normal Calvary Baptist Academy 1-1 on Saturday.

Uni is now 4-5-2 overall and 2-0-1 in conference play. Calvary Baptist is 5-3-1 overall.

This was the second meeting of the season between the two teams — the Illineks defeated the Crusaders 3-2 on April 14 in a game played at home in freezing rain and occasional snow.

Uni managed Saturday's draw without several key players. Senior defender Amelia Breault and junior midfielder Shara Esbenshade were absent, and freshman midfielder Michelle Wong had to leave the game in the middle of the second half when she injured her knee.

The hosts struck in the first half, scoring a goal that was called offside and taken back.

The Crusaders pushed on and put themselves on the board when Frankie Carbajal scored with an assist from Lizzie Howerton before halftime.

Despite the deficit, the Illineks battled hard to equalize throughout the second half.

Their efforts finally paid off when sophomore forward Joy Shapley scored off an assist from junior forward Jessica Stark. Uni held on to walk away even with its opponent.

Senior goalkeeper Mandy Grill had another outstanding match, keeping the Illineks in the game as Calvary Baptist launched 19 shots on goal.

Grill's counterpart, Emily Borst, made 10 saves for the Crusaders.

“They were looking for revenge,” junior forward Suran Yoo said of Calvary Baptist. “Our offense just couldn't get through. Mandy had some really good saves. The defense calmed down.”

Yoo felt that the Illineks were hurt when Wong left the game.

“We couldn't get [the ball] past the halfway line after she was injured,” Yoo said.

Uni's 1-0-1 record this year against Calvary Baptist represents a major improvement over last season, when the Crusaders swept the Illineks 3-0 and 4-1.

Shapley's goal was her third of the 2007 campaign. She is tied with Yoo for second on the team in goals. Freshman Erika Belmont leads the Illineks with 4.

The tie kept a winning record within reach for Uni as the girls entered their final two weeks of the regular season. They will face Class AA Danville on the road Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

The IHSA playoffs begin the end of next week with Class A sectionals.

The Illineks will compete in the Williamsville sectional, where they are seeded eighth out of 10 teams, ahead of Monticello and ECIC foe Judah Christian.

The girls tied Monticello 2-2 on April 5 but have yet to play Judah.

In the first round of playoff action, the Illineks will host Monticello on May 11 at 4:30 p.m.

If they win that game, they would visit top-seeded Williamsville on May 14.

VARSITY RECORD: 4-5-2 overall, 2-0-1 East Central Illinois Conference

(Games at DCR Fields are in bold)

Season Preview: Illineks look for improvement as season begins today

March 28: St. Thomas More, L 2-1

— Illinek scoring recap: Michelle Wong (penalty kick, first half)

— story: Uni drops season opener

March 30: Centennial, L 3-0

— Illinek scoring recap: no goals

— story: History is repeated in 3-0 loss to Centennial

April 3: Urbana, game canceled because of wet field conditions (will not be rescheduled)

April 5: at Monticello, T 2-2

— Illinek scoring recap: Erika Belmont (first half); Joy Shapley (second half)

— story: Illineks come back to tie Monticello

April 10: at Charleston, L 7-1

— Illinek scoring recap: Erika Belmont (first half)

— story: Close game turns into lopsided loss to Charleston

April 12: Macon Meridian, W 1-0

— Illinek scoring recap: Sarah Pfander (second half)

— story: Pfander's goal lifts Uni over Meridian for first win

April 14: Normal Calvary Baptist, W 3-2 *

— Illinek scoring recap: Suran Yoo (2 goals, both first half); Sarah Pfander (first half)

— story: Illineks ignore rain, mud to win second straight

April 17: St. Thomas More, L 4-1

— Illinek scoring recap: Suran Yoo (second half)

— story: Illineks fall again to St. Thomas More

April 19: Decatur Christian, W 3-0 *

— Illinek scoring recap: Erika Belmont (second half); Joy Shapley (second half); Chelsea Freeland (second half)

— story: Uni shuts out Decatur Christian

April 24: at Mahomet-Seymour, L 2-0

— Illinek scoring recap: no goals

— story: Illineks fall to Mahomet-Seymour 2-0

April 26: Mattoon, W 1-0

— Illinek scoring recap: Erika Belmont (first half)

— story: Uni downs Mattoon in lightning-shortened game

April 28: at Normal Calvary Baptist, T 1-1 *

— Illinek scoring recap: Joy Shapley (second half)

— story: see above

*East Central Illinois Conference opponent

Remaining games: see schedule