Sophomore Michelle Wong (3), shown in action against Decatur Christian, scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season Saturday against Macon Meridian. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

MACON — Junior Joy Shapley scored a pair of goals Saturday, including one on a penalty kick, as the Uni girls defeated Macon Meridian 4-0 in a nonconference road game.

The victory was the Illineks' fifth straight, dating back to their 3-1 upset of Class AA Charleston on April 8. It was also their fourth consecutive shutout. With senior keeper Sarah Pfander leading the way, Uni has given up only six goals in nine games.

Uni is now 7-1-1 overall, 2-0 in the East Central Illinois Conference.

The game, which began at 10 a.m., made up for the April 10 contest that was canceled due to rain. As Uni head coach Phil Anders put it, the match began "with both teams looking as if they were still getting the sleep out of their eyes for the first few minutes."

But by the fifth minute, Uni's passing game got on track.

"A methodical buildup and a quick attack from right forward Erika Belmont had the ball played across the front of the goal to an onrushing Joy Shapley, who made quick work of the chance," Anders said. "Six minutes later, Joy returned the favor with a beautiful cross from the left wing to Erika, who easily found the back of the net."

The goal was Belmont's fifth of the season, temporarily tying her with sophomore Michelle Wong for the team lead.

Leading 2-0, Uni went into halftime firmly in control of the game. The visiting Illineks outshot the Hawks 9-0.

"Any hint of an attack by Macon was quickly taken care of by a solid Uni defense consisting of Jessica Sullivan, Annie Machesky, Chelsea Freeland, and first-time starter Sian Best," Anders said.

Uni put the game away early in the second half. In the 41st minute, sophomore Michelle Wong — "supported by a Uni team that seemed to be everywhere on the field," Anders said — took the ball near the top of the penalty box.

"In a brilliant solo display of skill, she sidestepped the defender and released a shot that was just out of reach for the Macon goalkeeper," Anders said.

The unassisted goal was Wong's team-leading sixth of the year.

Uni remained ahead 3-0 until the 79th minute, when Shapley attacked the Hawks' penalty area, just as Wong did at the start of the half. Shapley found herself between two defenders.

"In a skillful showing of footwork, she played the ball between the defenders and could only be stopped by a foul from one of the defending players," Anders said.

Shapley connected on the resulting penalty kick, giving her four goals on the season.

Once again, Pfander had little to do as goalkeeper, and she moved to the field to see more action. Junior Sheri Grill replaced her and made two saves in the second half to maintain the shutout.

The Illineks outshot their hosts 10-2 in the final 40 minutes, 19-2 for the game.

This year's match represented a big change from last season, when Uni and Meridian remained scoreless until the 66th minute. Pfander scored that game's only goal on a shot from the top of the 18-yard box.

The Illineks now begin a brutal stretch against top competition that won't end until early May. They will face two Class AA teams this week: Mahomet-Seymour (seeded No. 1 in its subsectional bracket) on Tuesday and an impressive Mattoon squad on Thursday. Uni will then square off Saturday against a fired-up St. Thomas More team ready for payback after losing to the Illineks 3-2 on March 27.

The following week Uni will play Class AA Danville on April 29 and Warrensburg-Latham — the No. 2 seed in Uni's sectional (the Illineks are No. 4) — on May 1.

2008 SEASON AT A GLANCE

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER: 7-1-1 overall, 2-0 East Central Illinois Conference
(home matches listed in bold)

March 25: at Centennial, W 2-1

• Story: Believe it! Uni begins season with upset of Centennial varsity
• Halftime: Centennial 1, Uni 0
• Uni goals: Erika Belmont (53rd minute), Joy Shapley assist; Aran Yoo (75th minute), Isaure Hostetter assist
• Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 13 (4, 9)
• Shots on goal: Uni 14 (8, 6); Centennial 14 (5, 9)
• JV result: Uni 0, Centennial 0
• JV Uni goals: None
• JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 2; Lor Sligar 4
• JV shots on goal: Uni 4 (1, 3); Centennial 6 (2, 4)
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

March 27: St. Thomas More, W 3-2

• Story: Uni makes up two-goal deficit to beat St. Thomas More
• Halftime: STM 1, Uni 0
• Uni goals: Aran Yoo (51st minute), Suran Yoo assist; A. Yoo (61st minute), S. Yoo assist; Michelle Wong (65th minute), Elizabeth Russell assist
• Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 9 (7, 2)
• Shots on goal: Uni 19 (7, 12); STM 11 (8, 3)
• JV result: Uni 3, STM 0
• JV Uni goals: Katie Buzard (18th minute), Katayun Salehi assist; Emma Coverdill (26th minute), Revathi Maturi assist; Coverdill (27th minute), Maturi assist
• JV Uni saves: Lor Sligar 2; Sheri Grill 1
• JV shots on goal: Uni 9 (4, 5); STM 3 (2, 1)
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 1: at Urbana, L 2-0

• Story: Urbana loss, Monticello tie sidetrack Illineks
• Halftime: Urbana 1, Uni 0
Uni goals: None
• Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 15 (9, 6)
• Shots on goal: Uni 15 (7, 8); Urbana 17 (10, 7)
• JV result: Urbana 1, Uni 0
• JV Uni goals: None
• JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 2; Lor Sligar 4
• JV shots on goal: Uni 8 (3, 5); Urbana 7 (2, 5)
• Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 3: Monticello, T 0-0

• Story: Urbana loss, Monticello tie sidetrack Illineks
• Halftime: Uni 0, Monticello 0
• Uni goals: None
• Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 5 (2, 3)
• Uni shots on goal: Uni 18 (4, 14); Monticello 5 (2, 3)
• JV result: Urbana 1, Monticello 1
• JV Uni goal: Revathi Maturi (first minute), unassisted
• JV saves: Lor Sligar 1; Sheri Grill 2
• JV shots on goal: Uni 7 (2, 5); Monticello 4 (1, 3)
• Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 8: Charleston, W 3-1

• Story: Uni shuts down Charleston's top scorer, wins 3-1
• Halftime: Uni 2, Charleston 0
• Uni goals: Erika Belmont (14th minute), Joy Shapley assist; Shapley (40th minute), Shara Esbenshade assist; Michelle Wong (56th minute), Suran Yoo assist
• Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 9 (6, 3)
• Shots on goal: Uni 18 (12, 6); Charleston 12 (7, 5)
• JV result: Charleston 2, Uni 1
• JV Uni goal: Katie Buzard (57th minute), Revathi Maturi assist
• JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 6; Lor Sligar 2
• JV shots on goal: Uni 15 (6, 9); Charleston 10 (8, 2)
• Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 10: at Macon Meridian, rain out

• Game canceled because of rain

April 12: at Normal Calvary Baptist, W 1-0 *

• Story: Wong, Belmont team up for winning goal over Normal Calvary
• Halftime: Uni 0, Normal Calvary 0
• Uni goal: Michelle Wong (50th minute), Erika Belmont assist
• Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 0; Lor Sligar 3; Sheri Grill 0
• Shots on goal: Uni 21 (12, 9); Normal Calvary 3 (0, 3)
• JV result: No game
• Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 15: Decatur St. Teresa, W 1-0

• Story: Illineks dominate again in second consecutive shutout win
• Halftime: Uni 1, Decatur St. Teresa 0
• Uni goal: Michelle Wong (38th minute), Suran Yoo assist
• Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 5 (0, 5)
• Shots on goal: Uni 14 (7, 7); Decatur St. Teresa 9 (2, 7)
• JV result: Uni 0, Decatur St. Teresa 0
• JV Uni goals: None
• JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 1; Lor Sligar 1
• JV shots on goal: Uni 10 (5, 5); Decatur St. Teresa 2 (1, 1)
• Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 17: at Decatur Christian, W 6-0 *

• Story: Five goals in 15 minutes lead to Uni rout of Decatur Christian
• Halftime: Uni 1, Decatur Christian 0
• Uni goals: Michelle Wong (38th minute), penalty kick; Suran Yoo (41st minute), Joy Shapley assist; Shapley (43rd minute), Wong assist; Erika Belmont (46th minute), Shapley assist; Belmont (51st minute), Yoo assist; Sarah Pfander (55th minute), Beth Peregrine assist
• Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 0 (first half), Sheri Grill 0 (first half), Lor Sligar 2 (second half)
• Noteworthy save: Decatur Christian penalty kick in 71st minute saved by Lor Sligar
• Shots on goal: Uni 33 (19, 14); Decatur Christian 2 (0, 2)
• JV result: No game
• Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 19: at Macon Meridian (make up of rained-out game), W 4-0

• Story: Winning streak continues as Uni shuts out fourth straight opponent
• Halftime: Uni 2, Macon Meridian 0
• Uni goals: Joy Shapley (fifth minute), Erika Belmont assist; Belmont (11th minute), Shapley assist; Michelle Wong (41st minute), unassisted; Shapley (79th minute), penalty kick
• Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 0, Sheri Grill 2
• Shots on goal: Uni 19 (9, 10); Macon Meridian 2 (0, 2)
• JV result: No game
• Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 22: Mahomet-Seymour

April 24: at Mattoon

April 26: St. Thomas More

April 29: Danville

May 1: at Warrensburg-Latham

May 3: Judah Christian *

May 5: Decatur Lutheran *

May 7: Champaign Central (Uni varsity vs. Central JV)

May 9: IHSA Class A Sectionals TBA

* East Central Illinois Conference opponent

SEASON STATISTICS

VARSITY SCORING

• Michelle Wong: 6 goals, 1 assist, 9 games
• Erika Belmont: 5 goals, 2 assist, 9 games
• Joy Shapley: 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 games
• Aran Yoo: 3 goals, 0 assists, 4 games
• Suran Yoo: 1 goal, 5 assists, 9 games
• Sarah Pfander: 1 goal, 0 assists, 3 games
• Isaure Hostetter: 0 goals, 1 assist, 9 games
• Shara Esbenshade: 0 goals, 1 assist, 7 games
• Elizabeth Russell: 0 goals, 1 assist, 7 games
• Beth Peregrine: 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 game

VARSITY GOALKEEPING

• Sarah Pfander: 6 goals allowed, 55 saves, 9 games
• Lor Sligar: 0 goals allowed, 5 saves, 2 games
• Sheri Grill: 0 goals allowed, 2 saves, 3 games

JV SCORING

• Emma Coverdill: 2 goals, 0 assists, 6 games
• Katie Buzard: 2 goal, 0 assists, 6 games
• Revathi Maturi: 1 goal, 3 assists, 6 games
• Katayun Salehi: 0 goals, 1 assist, 6 games

JV GOALKEEPING

• Lor Sligar: 1 goal allowed, 14 saves, 6 games
• Sheri Grill: 3 goals allowed, 14 saves, 6 games

TEAM ROSTER

VARSITY PLAYERS

• 2 Yoo, Suran 12th
• 3 Wong, Michelle 10th
• 4 Pfander, Sarah 12th
• 5 Machesky, Annie 11th
• 6 Freeland, Chelsea 12th
• 8 Chu, Emily 12th
• 9 Esbenshade, Shara 12th
• 10 Yoo, Aran 12th
• 11 Grill, Sheri 11th
• 12 Belmont, Erika 10th
• 13 Stark, Jessica 12th
• 14 Sullivan, Jessica 11th
• 15 Buzard, Katherine 10th
• 17 Levin, Maddy 11th
• 19 Schein, Zoë 12th
• 20 Hostetter, Isaure 10th
• 21 Shapley, Joy 11th
• 22 Hwu, Amanda 9th
• 23 Best, Sian 10th
• 27 Russell, Elizabeth 10th

JUNIOR VARSITY PLAYERS

• 1 Sligar, Lor 11th
• 7 Iyer, Marika 12th
• 11 Gratton, Cristina 9th
• 12 Smith, Lily 9th
• 13 Salehi, Katayun 9th
• 14 Engles, Alexx 10th
• 15 Maturi, Revathi 9th
• 16 Cooke, Jenny 9th
• 16 Nakamura, Natsuki 11th
• 17 Yannelis, Eleni 9th
• 24 Peregrine, Beth 12th
• 25 Pittenger, Larissa 12th
• 28 Coverdill, Emma 9th
• 29 Vazquez, Isabel 10th