Record 1,085 Fans See ISU and UofI Draw 1-1
August 19, 2012
<p><strong>NORMAL, Ill. – </strong>In front of an Adelaide Street Field-record 1,085 fans, the Illinois State soccer team played the 19<sup>th</sup>-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini to a 1-1 draw. Both teams tallied goals in the first half, but went the remaining of regulation and two overtime periods without scoring.</p>
<p>“I think a draw was a somewhat fair result,” head coach <strong>Drew Roff </strong>said. “Illinois had some great chances to score and win the game, and our goalkeeper (<strong>Aryn Newsom</strong>) came up big a couple of times. We definitely created a couple of excellent opportunities in the second half and the two overtime periods as well. Obviously, both teams wanted to win, but I think a draw is a fair result because both teams played well and battled hard.</p>
<p>“I’m thrilled,” Roff added about the attendance record. “Our players work so hard and do so many great things on the field, in the classroom and in the community. For them to look over there and see those types of numbers is tremendous for them and for our program.”</p>
<p>The record crowd, which nearly doubled the previous high of 550 set in 2001, saw a back-and-forth affair between two 2011 NCAA Tournament Teams. <strong>Rachel Tejada </strong>put the Redbirds (1-0-1) up in the 22<sup>nd</sup> minute by converting a penalty kick for her third goal of 2012. <strong>Aimee Wronski</strong> played a ball to Tejada in behind the Illini (1-0-1) defense before she was taken down inside the box. Tejada was slow to get up, but recovered to bury the penalty inside the left post as Illinois keeper Steph Panozzo dove right. </p>
<p>It was Tejada’s first penalty attempt and conversion of her career. The 21-goal scorer from 2011 has netted all three Redbird tallies of 2012. Her 24-career goals rank her third on the program’s all-time list, five behind 2008-2011 Redbird <strong>Jessica Carlson</strong> for second.</p>
<p>The Illini didn’t waste much time evening the match, as freshman Nicole Breece knotted the game at 1-1 in the 30<sup>th</sup> minute. Senior Niki Read played a low cross through the box from the right side to Breece, who beat Newsom<strong> </strong>inside the left post. The goal was the first of Breece’s Illini career.</p>
<p>Illinois State had the best opportunity in overtime, as freshman <strong>Abby Van Deventer </strong>received a ball on the left side of the box. She attempted to settle it before letting a shot go, but her try sailed over the crossbar. ISU outshot the Illini in the extra periods 6-5 overall, with five of the Redbird attempts coming in the first overtime session.</p>
<p>Newsom, a redshirt-sophomore,<strong> </strong>made numerous key saves throughout on her way to stopping a career-high 10 shots. The Illini outshot the Redbirds 26-17 overall, with both teams taking five corner kicks. Panozzo stopped three shots for Illinois.</p>
<p>Sunday’s draw was the 10<sup>th</sup> battle between the in-state rivals, with Illinois leading the series 6-2-2. The match was the first between the two programs since 2009 and second since 2005.</p>
<p>The Redbirds travel to Fort Meyers, Fla., next weekend to participate in the Embassy Suites Kick-Off Classic. ISU will take on Florida Atlantic Friday, Aug. 24, at 4 p.m., before facing 2011 Atlantic Sun champions Florida Gulf Coast Sunday, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m. The next home match will be Sunday, Sep. 2 against Western Michigan.</p>
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