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Girls soccer: Seniors go out with victory in last regular-season game
Senior goalkeeper Mandy Grill gets ready to make a save in the second half Wednesday against the Champaign Central JV. Uni won the game 2-1, raising its record to 7-7-2. Grill and five other seniors, including Bethany Hutchens (No. 10), were honored after the match, which was Uni's final regular-season game. The playoffs begin 4:30 p.m. Friday at home against Monticello. (Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)
By Alan Liang & Gargoyle sports staff
Posted Thursday, May 10, 2007, The OG, girls soccer & sports
Sophomore Annie Machesky, left, disrupts a
Central advance. Senior Emily Rosengren (behind
Machesky) and freshman Liz Allen are in the
background. (Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)
URBANA — Uni's six seniors ended their final regular-season campaign on a high note Wednesday as the host Illineks defeated Class AA Champaign Central's junior varsity 2-1. (This is the only time the Uni varsity has played another team's JV this season.)
The victory was the Illineks' third in a row, Uni's longest winning streak of the year. The team won two straight in mid-April, 1-0 against Macon Meridian and 3-2 against Normal Calvary Baptist.
As they head into Friday's first-round Class A playoff match against visiting Monticello, the Illineks are 7-7-2. This represents a major turnaround from last year, when they finished 4-15, including a 3-0 playoff loss to Decatur Lutheran.
This year's team also won the East Central Illinois Conference title, clinching the championship Monday by defeating Decatur Lutheran 4-2. That loss was the Lady Lions' first conference defeat in two years.
In Wednesday's game, Uni got on board first with a goal by forward Erika Belmont. The freshman scored with 8:05 left in the first half on an assist by junior forward Jessica Stark.
Just 2:10 into the second half, Belmont netted what would prove to be the winning goal. Junior midfielder Sarah Pfander assisted on the play.
The two goals gave Belmont 8 on the season, making her the team's leading scorer. Junior forward Suran Yoo is second with 6. Belmont's brother, senior Michael Belmont, led this year's boys team with an area-best 30 goals.
GAME AT A GLANCE
- Score: Uni 2, Champaign Central JV 1
- Varsity record: 7-7-1 overall, 4-0-1 ECIC
- Summary: The Illineks evened their record to end the regular season on a high note. They go into Friday's first-round playoff game against Monticello with a three-game winning streak, their longest of the year.
- Next game: vs. Monticello, 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, DCR Fields (Field 9, west of Uni's regular field, south of main parking lot)
Central avoided a shutout by scoring with 3:21 left on the clock.
Senior goalkeeper Mandy Grill didn't have to make any saves in the first half as the Uni defense prevented the Maroons from getting off a shot. After halftime, Grill made one save.
The Illineks managed five shots in the first half and eight in the second.
After 16 games, Uni has scored 23 goals — an increase of more than 40 percent over the 16 goals the team netted last year in 19 matches.
“They've learned a lot [this season],” head coach Phil Anders said. “At times, we look like we can't be stopped.”
Anders is hoping the team enters the postseason with the right mindset.
“Our intensity wasn't as good as it has been,” he said of the Central game. “This is our warm-up for the game on Friday.”
Uni's first-round playoff match will be played at Field 9 in the DCR Fields complex, according to Anders. The game begins at 4:30 p.m.
Field 9 is located to the west of Uni's regular field and to the south of the main parking lot.
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 Monday.
In the meantime, the team's seniors have at least another day to savor their soccer experience.
“The best part is about playing with these guys and [making] things click,” said senior midfielder Krista Olson. “The team is wonderful. I'm going to miss [it].”
After Wednesday's game, as parents and fans gathered around, the Illineks honored their six soon-to-be graduates: Grill, Olson, Dana Al-Qadi, Amelia Breault, Bethany Hutchens, and Emily Rosengren.
“I like how, at Uni, people of lots of levels can play together,” Rosengren said afterward. “Everybody improves.”
“We like to push ourselves,” said Al-Qadi. “We like bonding as a team. Even though we've got the intensity [and] we've got the drive, we still maintain a bond between the players.”
After Wednesday's game, the team honored its six senior players (from left): Mandy Grill, Amelia Breault, Dana Al-Qadi, Emily Rosengren, Krista Olson, and Bethany Hutchens. (Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)
VARSITY RECORD: 7-7-2 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: Uni defeats Decatur Lutheran for conference title
May 9: Champaign Central JV, W 2-1
— Illinek scoring recap: Erika Belmont (2 goals, first half & second half)
— story: see above
*East Central Illinois Conference opponent
Remaining games: see schedule
