SPRINGFIELD, IL – In winner-take-all fashion, the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's soccer team fought off Rockhurst University for the final Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament (GLVC) spot with a 1-0 victory during Wednesday's conference matchup.
 
UIS (9-5-4, 6-5-3) secured its first-ever GLVC Tournament berth, following Wednesday's win over Rockhurst (7-9-1, 5-8-1). The Prairie Stars also picked up their first win over the Hawks in program history.
 
"I'm so happy for these girls," UIS coach Erin Egolf proclaimed. "It's a very well-deserved achievement that we've been working toward all season. [Wednesday] marks a historic moment in UIS women's soccer history and I feel blessed to be a part of it."
 
"We knew coming in that it was going to be a tough game and that we needed to play our best in order to come out with the result we wanted," UIS goalkeeper Courtney Johnson added.
 
Erin Bolskar lifted the Prairie Stars after striking with the game-winner during the 60th minute.
 
"This was a well-deserved win for this team, as we have worked hard this entire season toward the goal of making the conference tournament," Bolskar commented. "I am thrilled that I was able to contribute to the win and be part of a historic moment for our program."
 
Rockhurst had an opportunity to strike first during the 21st minute. Kaley Nieters took a shot that was blocked. Jillian Leetch got the rebound, but her shot went wide. Meghan Delaney set up Taylor Parriott with a cross 23 minutes into the match. Parriott spun a one-timer for the Prairie Stars but the shot was saved.
 
During the 55th minute, Delaney sent a cross into the box for the Prairie Stars. Emily Matsen produced a header off the pass and the shot went high.
 
UIS was awarded a throw-in during the 60th minute. Kayla Meyer found Bolskar on the throw-in. After Bolskar created some space, the sophomore forward from Muskego, WI fired from the right-side of the 18-yard line and sent the ball in the upper-left corner of the net.
 
The best looks that the Hawks had in the remainder of the contest were shots on goal from Maddie Dierkes during the 63rd minute and Mia Zanaboni during the 66th minute.
 
Rockhurst outshot UIS by a 23-to-9 margin.
 
Johnson saved each of the nine shots she faced for the Prairie Stars in addition the receiving help on the defensive line.
 
"The defense played fantastic, allowing me to get into the flow," Johnson acknowledged. "We fed off each other's energy and focus."
 
Rockhurst goalkeeper Maggie Forbes rejected three of the four shots she faced.
 
Bolskar, Parriott, Maggie Juhlin and Taylor Mraz each registered shots on goal for the Prairie Stars. Juhlin provided three shots and Mraz contributed two shots. Bolskar, Parriott, Matsen and Kaylan Mills each produced shots.
 
Dierkes turned in three shots on goal, Nieters and Cate Sommerhoff notched two shots on goal apiece while Zanaboni and Leetch put together a shot on goal.
 
"While it wasn't our best effort, the girls perservered and earned themselves a ticket to the postseason tournament," Egolf said. "When you get into the postseason, anything can happen."
 
UIS finished the season eighth in the GLVC standings. The Prairie Stars open up the GLVC Tournament with GLVC regular-season champion Quincy University (15-2, 13-1), which is No. 12 in the latest United Soccer Coaches (USC) NCAA Division II poll. Quincy survived the Prairie Stars last Sunday after rallying to a 3-2 victory. The two teams face off on Sunday at 12 p.m. in Quincy, IL.
 
"I'm super excited for Sunday and to show everyone what UIS soccer is made of," Johnson remarked.
 
"We're looking forward to a rematch with Quincy and we're going to give it everything we've got," Egolf stated.
 
PRAIRIE STAR NOTES
Among UIS Division II leaders, Johnson ranks second in career shutouts (8) and is tied for second in single-season shutouts (4).