SPRINGFIELD, IL – Fighting through the 90th minute, the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's soccer team survived Lewis University in a 1-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) victory on Sunday.
 
"This was a match that we needed to show up for and give our all for the whole 90 minutes and we did just that," UIS defender Maggie Juhlin said. "We competed as a team and got the result we deserved. I'm proud of the way we fought."
 
UIS (8-4-4, 5-4-3) and Lewis (5-6-2, 4-5-2) are both in the hunt to secure a top-eight position in the GLVC standings and qualify for the GLVC Tournament. Both teams entered the match tied in the standings. UIS moved into a sixth-place tie with the win while Lewis dropped into a tie for 10th following the loss.
 
"We knew coming into this match that this was a big one," UIS coach Erin Egolf added. "We also knew that Lewis was going to come in and compete. I'm really proud of the girls for the maturity that they showed this match. They battled the entire 90 minutes and they got the result that they both deserved and needed."

The Prairie Stars ecliped the school records for most regular-season wins and conference wins in program history since becoming a Division II program. UIS also secured the first win over Lewis in program history.
 
During the 29th minute of the match, Juhlin drove the right sideline and fed Meghan Delaney in the right corner. Delaney delivered a shot that sailed into the back of the net. Juhlin was credited with an assist.
 
"This was a must-win match for us," Delaney acknowledged. "I knew when I had the opportunity to shoot, I was going to have to put it in."
 
Mallory Richardson created a scoring opportunity off defensive pressure 60 minutes into the match. She blocked a goal kick and the deflection went just left of the goal.
 
The Prairie Stars had opportunities to put up an insurance goal. Juhlin fired a spin-shot that was saved by Lewis goalkeeper Jennifer Meyer 67 minutes into the match. During the 76th minute Juhlin set up Taylor Mraz with a 1-on-1 opportunity off an upfield pass. Meyer managed to beat Mraz to the ball.
 
During the final minute, the Flyers drove upfield and Kailey Parnello fired a shot that was rejected by UIS goalkeeper Courtney Johnson. Lewis had two corner kicks in the final 10 seconds but came up empty.
 
The Prairie Stars outshot the Flyers by a 14-to-10 margin.
 
Johnson saved each of the six shots she faced while Meyer sent away seven of the eight shots she faced.
 
Juhlin and Delaney each contributed three shots on goal while Erin Bolskar recorded two shots on target. Delaney fired five shots, Juhlin produced four shots, Mraz and Bolskar added two shots apiece and Emily Matsen tallied a shot.
 
Parnello notched four shots on goal for the Flyers while Courtney Sengstock and Karlie Cummins each put together a shot on goal.
 
UIS takes on Quincy University (12-2, 10-1) next Sunday at 12 p.m. for Senior Day at Kiwanis Stadium. The Hawks are ranked No. 15 in the latest United Soccer Coaches (USC) NCAA Division II poll.
 
"With two games left, we are in a competitive position but we need to keep moving forward," Egolf stated. "We can't have any letdowns. I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do these next two weeks."
 
PRAIRIE STAR NOTES
Among UIS Division II leaders, Delaney is tied for fifth in single-season points (11), tied for sixth in single-season goals (4), tied for ninth in career goals (4) and tied for 10th in career points (11). Johnson is also tied for second in career shutouts (7) and tied for third in single-season shutouts (3).