NORMAL, Ill. – A slow start proved too much to overcome for the Illinois State (8-4-2, 1-2-0 MVC) soccer team, as the Redbirds lost to Northern Iowa (7-8-1, 2-1-1 MVC) 2-1 Wednesday afternoon at Adelaide Street Field.  The Redbirds outshot the Panthers 18-4 throughout the game, but could not find the equalizer in the second half after being down 2-0 at the break.

The Panthers opened the game’s scoring in the 10^th minute, as Caitlyn Fuller chased a ball down in the right corner.  She sent in a cross that bounced through the box to Melissa Hagan on the back post, who finished it to put UNI up 1-0.  Then, in the 35^th minute, Kiki McClellan headed home a corner kick from Maggie Riley to give the Panthers a 2-0 advantage that they would take into halftime.

“We definitely came out flat in the first half, which has been somewhat of a trademark for us this season,” head coach Drew Roff said.  “We tried to fix some things and just did not play with any sense of urgency.  I thought Northern Iowa did a good job of going hard and winning the 50-50 balls.  They scored a nice goal in transition, and that corner kick goal was a back-breaker.”

The Redbirds came out better in the second half, pulling back within one on Rachel Tejada’s 12^th goal of the season in the 55^th minute.  Anna Stinson sent in a corner kick from the left side that UNI keeper Erin Zaideman punched away.  However, Tejada volleyed the loose ball into the back of the net to cut the deficit in half.

Tejada and the Redbirds had multiple chances throughout the remainder of the match to pull even, but could not convert.  Shortly after the goal, Tejada sent another ball by Zaideman, only to see it erased due to her being offside.  Tejada also found the crossbar on a left-footed shot from the 18 that Abby Van Deventer almost put in on the rebound, before being denied by Zaideman.  All in all, Tejada fired a season-high seven shots on the afternoon.

“The second half was much better, but we dug ourselves too big of a hole,” Roff said.  “That inconsistency is what killed us today.”

The Redbirds continue conference play and their four-game home stand Sunday afternoon against Indiana State at 1 p.m.  Senior Day and Heidecke Day will both be celebrated.  The six Redbird seniors will be recognized before squaring off with the Sycamores. Additionally, players, coaches and fans will gather after the game to honor former Redbird player Julie Heidecke, who passed away in an automobile accident in 1998.

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