SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's soccer team claimed a 2-0 victory during Sunday's Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matchup with Missouri S&T.

UIS (5-1-2, 2-1-1) earned a 3-0 win over Drury University (3-3-1, 1-3) on Friday. Sunday's win over Missouri S&T (0-6, 0-4) marked the first time the program picked up two wins in the same conference series since they joined Division II. The sweep puts UIS in a three-way tie for fifth in the GLVC standings with Maryville University (3-2-1, 2-1-1) and Truman State University (2-2-2, 2-1-1).

"It's great to start off your home conference season with two wins," UIS coach Erin Egolf said. "We're sitting in a good place in conference, it's a huge confidence builder and now the girls have to keep going and putting in performances like this."

Madisyn Coudriet contributed a goal for UIS 82 minutes into the match to give the Prairie Stars a 1-0 lead. Meghan Delaney provided an insurance goal assisted by Kaylan Mills with less than six minutes remaining in the match.

"The simple fact of the matter is that goals change games. We talked at halftime about the fact that we had really good chances. All we have to do is put one in and the game opens up."

Ten minutes into the match, Kayla Foster saw a look on the left side five yards from the goal, but the shot was rejected by UIS goalkeeper Paloma Guijarro.

During the 27th minute, the Prairie Stars earned a free kick. Maggie Juhlin took a header off the free kick but the shot went wide. At halftime, the two teams were knotted in a scoreless tie.

"Coming off our big win on Friday, we knew we needed to come out strong against Missouri S&T," Coudriet stated. "We created some opportunities in the first half and were a little unlucky, but we stuck with the game plan and persistently attacked their defense."

Three minutes into the second period, UIS earned another free kick. Coudriet fired a pass, Meghan Delaney made a header pass and Juhlin connected on header that made its way into the goal, but the Prairie Stars were barely called offsides prior to the score.

Riley Cronin tore up the field for the Lady Miners in the 64th minute. She delivered a shot on goal, but Guijarro sent the shot high.

Coudriet maneuvered her way up the right side during the 83rd minute. The senior defender from Chesterton, IN found an opening and netted a goal to give UIS the lead and the momentum.

"Madisyn worked her socks off the entire game, took it upon her shoulders to get in, be dangerous and score our first goal," Egolf commented. "I think it was well-deserved."

"I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to give us the lead," Coudriet said.

During the 85th minute, Mills sent an upfield pass to Delaney and Delaney scored her third goal of the season.

"Kaylan and Meghan had a great combination to give UIS a 2-0 lead."

Coudriet and Delaney each scored on their only shot on goal. The Prairie Stars also received shots on target from Juhlin, Amanda Meyer, Taylor Mraz and Karisa Rogers.
Cronin notched two shots on target while Foster, Andrea Aller and Julia Crets also tallied shots on goal.

UIS outshot Missouri S&T by a 17-to-10 margin.

Guijarro recorded her second consecutive shutout, rejecting each of the five shots she faced. Missouri S&T goalkeeper Rylee Hanes saw six shots and came up with four saves.

"It was a huge win," Guijarro acknowledged. "I have to give out credit to the team for continuing to fight. I came up with a couple of big plays, but without the team, we could not have pulled out this win."

The Prairie Stars make the trip to St. Louis, MO for two conference road matches next weekend. UIS quarrels with Maryville on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) (2-3-1, 1-3) on Sunday at 12 p.m.

"Maryville and UMSL are two good teams with traditionally good programs," Egolf acknowledged. "Anyone in the conference can beat anyone on any given day, so we're going to have to show up, compete and play well. If we continue to play like we did this weekend, we're going to beat anyone and have success. We just have to keep going."

PRAIRIE STAR NOTES: Among GLVC season leaders, Rogers is tied for first with four goals while Mills and Mraz are two of seven players to be tied for third with three assists.