NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State soccer team’s five-game unbeaten streak to start the 2012 season came to a close Sunday afternoon at Adelaide Street Field, as Western Michigan defeated the Redbirds 2-1.  ISU (3-1-2) took a 1-0 lead into halftime before surrendering two goals in a span of three minutes to the Broncos’ (4-1-0) Rachel Chaney in the second half.

“For whatever reason, our play dropped off,” head coach Drew Roff said of the second half, in which the Redbirds were outshot 11-2.  “We looked fatigued.  Western Michigan was a little quicker and sharper technically than us.  They could keep the ball and be dangerous, while we couldn’t.” 

Chaney’s first tally came in the 63^rd minute, when the WMU sophomore got in behind Kristin Cooley, who slipped on the soggy field.  Chaney then entered the box on the right side and fired a shot towards ISU keeper Aryn Newsom.  Newsom got a piece of it, but the ball still trickled inside the left post to even the match.

Then, in the 66^th minute, Chaney again attacked down the right side.  She made a move to get around Gabbi McArtor and dribbled into the penalty area, where McArtor took her down from behind.  Chaney was awarded a penalty shot, which she converted past Newsom for her second goal of the game and fourth of the season.

Illinois State’s goal was scored by freshman Sarah Mussallem in the 37^th minute.  Abby Van Deventer played a cross into the box from the left side that was seemingly handled by WMU keeper Michelle Watson.  However, the ball slipped out of her hands, with Mussallem on the doorstep to roof it into the net amid a scramble.  It was her second-consecutive match recording a point, as she assisted on Rachel Tejada’s game-winner at Northern Illinois.

Illinois State recorded only two shots on goal throughout the contest.  One came on Mussallem’s goal, while the other came from Aimee Wronski in the first half.  Overall, the Redbirds were outshot 19-6, marking the third time this season the opposition fired at least nine more shots than ISU.

The defeat for Illinois State was its first in the regular season since a 1-0 loss at the hands of Missouri State Sept. 30, 2011.  It was the Redbirds’ first loss at Adelaide Street Field since Sept. 9, 2011 against Minnesota.

The Redbirds next play at Big Ten foe Wisconsin Sunday, Sept. 9 at 2:30 p.m.  Their next home match is not until Wednesday, Sept. 19 against Green Bay.

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