Sophomore Michelle Wong (3) weaves her way through a crowd. Gargoyle photos (click to create slideshow)

Junior Annie Machesky gets ready to disrupt a St. Teresa scoring opportunity.

URBANA — Though the goal difference could have been more substantial, the Uni girls soccer team recovered from a slow start to grind out a second straight 1-0 win.

The matchup this time around pitted the Uni girls against Decatur St. Teresa, one of 10 teams in Uni’s Class A sectional bracket, making the match a significant test of the Illineks' postseason potential.

Although St. Teresa is having a down year (1-7-2 after today's loss), the last time Uni played the Bulldogs — in April 2006 — the Illineks fell 5-1.

The ability to win despite not being in outstanding form is a recognizable quality in all top teams, especially those destined to do well in the postseason — and this Uni team has got it in spades.

The girls’ 3-1 rout of Charleston on April 8 was a joy to watch, a unified statement of intent and prowess. Today's nonconference win against St. Teresa, which boosts the team’s overall record to 5-1-1 (1-0 in the ECIC), saw the Illineks’ individual brilliance dominate and triumph despite being far from their best and underachieving on the scoresheet — and that is, perhaps, an even more encouraging thought.

Though the constant threat imposed by the creative forces of Uni’s offense kept the game going at a lively pace, it was not until around the 38th minute that Uni snatched the lead, once again through sophomore attacking midfielder Michelle Wong, who scored the only goal in Saturday's 1-0 win over Normal Calvary.

After a series of wasted chances, a smart build-up through the center found Wong at the top of the box with the St. Teresa keeper off her line. Wong chipped a clever ball over the keeper, who could only watch as the squad’s top scorer added a fourth goal to her season tally.

Senior forward Suran Yoo received credit on the play for her team-leading fourth assist of the year.

Wong’s irrepressible tenacity and silky passing game kept the St. Teresa defense on their toes from the first whistle, but her game was only elevated after finding the back of the net. Her pinpoint passes, exceptional first touch and superb vision moved the ball up the field with a consistency and quality that deserved a larger goal difference.

Senior Sarah Pfander has given up only six goals in seven games. Gargoyle photos (click to create slideshow)

Sophomore Elizabeth Russell (27) races for the ball in the second half of Uni's 1-0 win over the visiting Bulldogs.

Senior midfielder Shara Esbenshade had arguably her finest game of the season so far, putting her arsenal of clever touches to use in completely dominating the right flank, and ever-reliable junior defender Jessi Sullivan proved once again an invaluable staple of the Uni back four.

While this first goal ended up the game winner, Uni played a second half that deserved a goal even more than the first. A frustrating string of unlucky finishes from the team’s front line spared St. Teresa from a thrashing.

Senior Chelsea Freeland put in a true captain’s performance at left-back, flying up and down the left flank and serving as the architect for virtually every Uni counterattack in the second half.

The former forward, moved to the back four this season by coach Phil Anders, seems to become more and more defensively sound every time she pulls on a Uni shirt, which in turn has enabled her to make full use of her enviable left foot and exceptional crossing ability in attack.

Uni defense was so solid that goalkeeper Sarah Pfander didn't have to make a save until the second half, when the senior frustrated the visiting Bulldogs on five occasions. Pfander, in her first season as varsity keeper, has given up only six goals in seven games.

In all, the Illineks outshot St. Teresa 14-9. Combined with their 21-3 performance Saturday against Normal Calvary, the girls have outshot their last two opponents by a combined 35-12, yet they have only two goals to show for their work.

Senior defensive midfielder Zoë Schein, one of four captains alongside Freeland, Esbenshade, and star striker Yoo, describes the low scoring output thusly: “Between this game and the one on Saturday [the 1-0 victory over Normal Calvary], we’ve been having trouble just getting the ball off of our foot and into the net. In both of those games, we basically dominated the field, but the score is a lot lower and doesn’t really indicate that.”

But Schein is optimistic, and from the motivation of her teammates and the squad’s knack for getting results, it appears she has good reason to be.

“It’s just something we have to work on,” she said. “So I guess I wouldn’t define today as an ‘off day,’ but rather as a good example of some things we’re working on.”

This constructive attitude, coupled with the most innately talented and in-form Uni squad in recent memory, surely means the girls have a more than legitimate shot at the dream season they deserve.

MORE PHOTOS: UNI VS. DECATUR ST. TERESA

Sophomore Katie Buzard battles a Bulldog for possession. Gargoyle photo (click to create your own slideshow)

Senior Shara Esbenshade (9) had an outstanding game in the field, earning high praise from coach Phil Anders.

Michelle Wong (3) scans the field for an open teammate as fellow sophomore Sian Best (23) looks on.

Junior Annie Machesky also received postgame praise from Anders for her strong performance on defense.

Goalkeeper Sarah Pfander sends the ball downfield as time winds down on Uni's second straight 1-0 victory.

2008 SEASON AT A GLANCE

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER: 5-1-1 overall, 1-0 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 *

April 19: at Macon Meridian (make up of rained-out game)

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: 4 goals, 0 assists, 7 games
• Aran Yoo: 3 goals, 0 assists, 4 games
• Erika Belmont: 2 goals, 1 assist, 7 games
• Suran Yoo: 0 goals, 4 assists, 7 games
• Joy Shapley: 1 goal, 2 assists, 7 games
• Shara Esbenshade: 0 goals, 1 assist, 7 games
• Isaure Hostetter: 0 goals, 1 assist, 7 games
• Elizabeth Russell: 0 goals, 1 assist, 5 games

VARSITY GOALKEEPING

• Sarah Pfander: 6 goals allowed, 55 saves, 7 games
• Lor Sligar: 0 goals allowed, 3 saves, 1 game
• Sheri Grill: 0 goals allowed, 0 saves, 1 game

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