The UIS women's soccer team (1-0-0) secured a 2-1 victory over the Alabama-Huntsville (0-1-0) on Friday at Charger Park. Illinois Springfield took the lead with a goal in each half, while UAH managed just one goal in the second. This win marks a strong start to the season for the Prairie Stars.
The match began with the Prairie Stars applying offensive pressure early, as
Autumn Diduch and
Sophia Davila each had shots saved within the first few minutes. The game featured penalty kick misses on both ends early on. At 18:09, UIS broke through with a goal by
Addi Wittenberg.
Gigi Yurevich made a key save against UAH's Addison Knauss later in the period, ensuring that the Prairie Stars held a 1-0 lead at the end of the half.
In the pivotal second half, Illinois Springfield maintained offensive pressure with several attempts, including a notable save by UAH's CeCe Szopa on a shot by
Riley Lloyd at 51:33. UAH briefly tied the game with a goal by Prescott Hull at 78:27. However, Illinois Springfield responded quickly with a decisive goal by
Mallory Herber at 85:37, securing a lead they held until the end of the period. The match concluded with the Prairie Stars earning a 2-1 victory, with goals from last season's top two scorers.
Mallory Herber and
Sophia Davila each contributed four shots, three on goal.
Addi Wittenberg notched one goal, completing her performance with two shots.
Gigi Yurevich played a critical role in the net, posting three saves over 90 minutes.
"It was a great opening game for us to build on," said head coach
Scott Myers. "Credit to UAH for making it difficult for us, as we struggled to find our footing early on, but the team stuck together and capitalized on its opportunities. Addi scored a great first goal, and Sophie delivered an excellent free kick late in the game that allowed Mallory to score the game-winner. I'm proud of our fight throughout the game and the contributions we got from a variety of players. We'll enjoy this win for the next 24 hours, then recover and look forward to the next game."
The Prairie Stars will face Trevecca Nazarene on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1:00 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.
