By Michael Belmont

Gargoyle sports editor

Posted Wednesday, April 25, 2007, The OG, girls soccer & sports

Senior Dana Al-Qadi moves downfield against

the Bulldogs. (Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)

MAHOMET — Class AA Mahomet-Seymour blanked the visiting Illineks 2-0 Tuesday in a nonconference showdown.

The loss drops Uni's record to 3-5-1, but the team's 2-0 East Central Illinois Conference record remains intact. Mahomet-Seymour improves to 4-3-3.

Though the Illineks came out energetically in the first half, as they have done in many of their games so far this season, Uni was unable to stem the tide for long.

The Bulldogs scored with 26:41 remaining until the break; the goal came off a free kick near one of Uni's corner flags.

Though the Illineks penetrated the Bulldogs' territory at times, they were unable to create quality scoring chances.

Mahomet managed 15 shots in the first half to Uni's one. In the second half, the Bulldogs outshot the Illineks 6-2. None of Uni's shots were on target.

The visitors played aggressively through much of the second half, but Mahomet scored again with 8:14 left to seal the victory.

Senior goalkeeper Mandy Grill turned in a good performance for Uni, managing 11 saves, including some very impressive ones that kept the score close.

“She kept us in the game,” said head coach Phil Anders.

Anders felt that his team may have been a little intimidated going into the match.

“Had we had the confidence in ourselves a little more, it would have been a totally different game,” he said.

Last year, the Bulldogs beat the Illineks 7-0.

“I think in the beginning that everybody was kind of nervous about playing this game,” Grill said. “We were starting to get confidence in the middle of the first half, but when they scored their first goal everybody put their heads down until they saw that we could still play with them, and they weren't going to score goal after goal after goal. We came out strong in the second half.”

Though Uni displayed solid defensive organization and ball movement in this match, Anders thinks that continued improvement in ball possession will be important as the team heads toward the postseason.

“That's the key for us now — the ability to move the ball,” he said. “Physically we're in good shape. In fact, at the end of the first half Mahomet was looking winded.”

Next up: Uni will take on Mattoon Thursday at DCR Fields. The varsity game will begin at 4:30 p.m.

In other soccer news, the IHSA has announced the schedule for the Class A sectionals.

The Illineks will compete in the Williamsville sectional, where they are seeded No. 8 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: 3-5-1 overall, 2-0 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: see above

*East Central Illinois Conference opponent

Remaining games: see schedule