SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) men's soccer team snapped Lewis University's six-match winning streak with a 1-0 victory during Sunday's Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matchup.
 
"We played a very tight game," UIS coach Adam Hall said.
 
"It was a tough game," UIS defender Rhys Wallace commented. "Lewis was very good at keeping possession but we did what we had to do as a team to grind out the win."
 
Lewis (9-4, 8-3) came into the match in second place in the GLVC standings. The Flyers fell to third with the loss. UIS (7-6-1, 7-4-1) currently holds a tie for fifth.
 
Throughout the match, both teams fought winds that reached up to 15 miles per hour.
 
"It was difficult conditions with the wind," Hall admitted.
 
The Prairie Stars locked down defensively to limit Lewis's play in the box and reduce easy looks.
 
"We limited them to mostly long-distance shots and I was delighted with the effort, defensively."
 
In addition to the Prairie Stars' effort on the defensive end, UIS brought an attack that hung with Lewis's defense, which entered the match allowing .92 goals per match. Lewis outshot UIS by an 11-to-9 margin, but the Prairie Stars held a 4-to-2 advantage over the Flyers in shots on goal.
 
"We're lucky to have such great players in front of our defense to create the chances for us to continue the fight for a playoff spot," UIS midfielder Harry Hiscock voiced.
 
UIS had its best look of the first half in the final minute. Adrian Ortega served a corner kick, Steven Albers produced a header but the shot was saved.
 
During the 52nd minute of the match, Floris Blom crossed a pass to Nico Mueller. Mueller whipped a header, but the shot went wide. During the 62nd minute, Dan Mahoney made an upfield pass to Naba Alzhyri, who made the breakaway. Alzhyri took the shot but was saved by Lewis goalkeeper Philip Huang.
 
Mueller made a drive into the box 66 minutes into the match. He fired the shot from six yards out but UIS goalkeeper Tommy Geile came up with the sliding save.
 
"Tommy had a very critical save to keep us in the game at 0-0," Hall recalled.
 
During the 73rd minute, Josh Moore made a run in the box and was fouled to give the Prairie Stars a penalty kick.
 
"Josh created the chance for himself. He has that spark and needs to build on this performance."
 
"I skillfully took on their defender and was fortunate enough to get taken out for a penalty," Moore added.
 
Wallace took the penalty kick. He found the top-left corner to put UIS on the board. The junior from Kilmarnock, Scotland has recorded nine points off four goals and an assist this season.
 
The Prairie Stars had a look to take a two-score lead 88 minutes into the match. Alzhyri and Alex Zarco created a 2-on-1 situation but Alzhyri's shot was saved.
 
Lewis was fouled going in during the final minute of the match. The first pass inward was sent out by Jack Coombes. Claude Kameni drove around the side and crossed a pass in for the Flyers but the pass was cleared to the other side of the field by Edward Rose. Lewis passed it back Huang, who was playing up from the goal. Huang served up one more attempt but the pass went right to Geile.
 
"It was a great performance and motivational win for the remainder of our matches."
 
"It was a great overall team performance from the lads," Hiscock said. "We defended well and were deserving of the win."
 
Geile rejected both of the shots he faced. The senior from O'Fallon, MO leads the conference with an .836 save percentage. Huang currently ranks fourth in the GLVC with an .821 save percentage. He saw four shots and came up with three saves.
 
Alzhyri registered two shots on goal. Wallace scored on his only shot on target and Albers tallied a shot on goal for the Prairie Stars. Alzhyri fired three shots, Wallace and Coombes contributed two shots apiece while Albers and Hiscock each added a shot.
 
The Flyers received shots on target from Mueller and Ralf Zehnter.
 
After dropping three consecutive losses, the Prairie Stars responded with a GLVC sweep. UIS captured a 2-1 double-overtime victory over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (4-8-1, 4-6-1) on Friday.
 
"It was a great weekend, bouncing back with two wins," Hall commented. "The guys have stuck to the plan and executed it well."
 
The Prairie Stars continue to work toward the GLVC Tournament as they take on Quincy University (5-8, 4-7) in a conference matchup next Sunday at 2:30 p.m. for Senior Day at Kiwanis Stadium.
 
"We now need to put all of our focus on the match against Quincy to make sure we secure good playoff position," Wallace stated.
 
PRAIRIE STAR NOTES
Geile holds the UIS Division II records for career shutouts (10) and single-season shutouts (5). Alzhyri is one of three players in the conference with four game-winning goals on the season.