By Jason He
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, The OG, sports

NORMAL — Just as they expected to, the Illineks defeated host Normal Calvary Baptist on Tuesday, handing their East Central Illinois Conference foe a 5-1 loss. Had Normal Calvary not scored a last-minute goal, this would have been the Illineks' seventh shutout of the season.

“When we got there, they all looked really small,” junior Chris Nixon said. “But we knew we would still have to play hard.”

The Illineks' season record is now 14-3-1, just one victory short of the all-time school mark of 15 wins, set in 2004 (15-4-2) and equaled last year (15-5-1). The win gives Uni the ECIC title with a 4-0 record.

In the first half, senior Michael Belmont scored his 22nd goal of the season. Senior Martin Granick followed with two goals. The Illineks led at halftime 3-0.

Senior Nick Pratt scored twice in the second half before Normal Calvary finally netted its lone goal in the 78th minute.

Juniors Isaac Radnitzer and Mike Renner exchanged goal-keeping duties for the first and second halves, respectively.

The Illineks play their final regular-season game today at Monticello. They will begin postseason action Monday, hosting the winner of Saturday's match between Sullivan and Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley. The game will be played at the field on Stadium Drive and First Street, Champaign. The field is northwest of Memorial Stadium. Parking in the IMPE lot, to the southeast of the field, is free.

Uni is seeded No. 1 in the Monticello Class A sectional.

2006 VARSITY RECORD: 14-3-1 overall, 4-0 ECIC
(Home games in bold)
Aug. 26: Blue Ridge (Uni Soccer Shootout), W 6-0
Aug. 26: Oakwood (Uni Soccer Shootout), W 5-2
Aug. 26: Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (Uni Soccer Shootout), W 7-2
Aug. 29: Judah Christian,* W 2-0
Aug. 31: at Mahomet-Seymour, W 2-0
Sept. 5: Fisher/GCMS, W 3-0
Sept. 7: at Decatur Christian,* W 12-0
Sept. 9: at Sullivan, W 9-1
Sept. 12: Oakwood, W 3-2
Sept. 14: at Iroquois West, W 7-1
Sept. 19: Decatur Lutheran,* W 4-1
Sept. 21: Champaign Central, W 2-1
Sept. 25: at Warrensburg-Latham, L 2-0
Sept. 28: at Danville Schlarman, L 2-0
Sept. 30: Urbana, L 5-1
Oct. 3: Unity, T 1-1
Oct. 5: at Catlin (Salt Fork), W 2-0
Oct. 10: at Normal Calvary Baptist,* W 5-1
*East Central Illinois Conference opponent