By Michael Belmont
Gargoyle sports editor
Posted Monday, May 7, 2007, The OG, girls soccer & sports

Junior Suran Yoo moves upfield against Decatur
Lutheran. (Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)

URBANA — The Illineks finished their East Central Illinois Conference season strong today with a championship-clinching 4-2 victory over Decatur Lutheran.

With the win, Uni improved to 4-0-1 in the ECIC and 6-7-2 overall.

The match was defending conference champion Decatur Lutheran's only loss in ECIC action this season and dropped the Lady Lions to 11-7-1 overall.

Last year Decatur Lutheran shut out Uni twice, 2-0 in the regular season and 3-0 in the first round of the playoffs.

Throughout today's game, play was fairly even and intense. Despite the final score, the visitors appeared in control at times and outshot the Illineks 12-6 in the first half and 11-6 in the second half.

However, both teams recorded 4 shots on goal in each period, and it was Uni that ultimately created the more dangerous scoring opportunities.

Just a few minutes after a Decatur Lutheran shot narrowly missed Uni's goal, freshman forward Erika Belmont put the Illineks ahead off a quality pass from fellow freshman Michelle Wong.

The Lady Lions pressured Uni heavily for much of the rest of the first half, and scored with 7:21 remaining until the break.

The hosts struck back with 45 seconds left in the half when the Decatur LSA goalkeeper fumbled a Belmont pass into the box and junior forward Suran Yoo capitalized on the error.

Uni continued its momentum into the second half, scoring again just under 7 minutes after the opening whistle when Belmont finished a ricochet off a shot from senior defender Krista Olsen.

Shortly afterward, junior midfielder Sarah Pfander delivered the knockout punch when she launched the ball into the back of the net from outside the 18-yard box with 26:28 left to play.

The Illineks' convincing 4-1 lead lasted until the Lions scored a consolation goal with 1:58 left to play.

“We really wanted it because the conference championship was on the line,” Pfander said. “Last year by the end of the season we were so used to not scoring that it didn't even cross our mind to push up on offense.”

Uni's 4 goals gave the team 21 on the season in 14 games.

Last year in 19 games the Illineks scored 16 goals (including 7 in one game). The 2006 team was shut out in 12 of its 15 losses.

Yoo and Belmont now share the team scoring lead with 6 goals apiece. Sophomore Joy Shapley is second with 4, followed by Pfander with 3, and Wong and junior Chelsea Freeland with 1 each.

Pfander noted overall team improvements that have contributed to a more successful season than last year.

“We're a lot better conditioned,” she said. “I think we have a stronger offense. We've been playing with three forwards up, and that's changed our game.”

“We finished today,” head coach Phil Anders commented. “We took it to them and we finished.”

Uni will host Champaign Central Wednesday in its last regular season game. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

The playoffs will begin Friday, when Uni hosts Monticello. The game will be played at Field 9 in the DCR complex, according to Anders.

The Illineks are assigned to the Williamsville Class A sectional, where they are seeded eighth out of 10 teams, ahead of Monticello and Judah Christian.

The girls tied Monticello 2-2 on April 5. If the Illineks defeat the Sages, they would visit top-seeded Williamsville on May 14.

VARSITY RECORD: 6-7-2 overall, 4-0-1 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: Uni ties Calvary Baptist in road match

May 1: at Danville, L 6-0

— Illinek scoring recap: no goals

— story: Danville defeats visiting Illineks 6-0

May 3: at Warrensburg-Latham, L 3-0

— Illinek scoring recap: no goals

— story: May 3 game: Uni loses to Warrensburg-Latham in second consecutive shutout

May 5: Judah Christian, W 3-0 *

— Illinek scoring recap: Suran Yoo (2 goals, both in first half); Joy Shapley (second half)

— story: Illineks get back on winning track with 3-0 victory over Judah Christian

May 7: Decatur Lutheran, W 4-2 *

— Illinek scoring recap: Erika Belmont (2 goals, first half & second half); Suran Yoo (first half); Sarah Pfander (second half)

— story: see above

*East Central Illinois Conference opponent

Remaining games: see schedule