Aug. 12, 2008

Box Score

TERRE HAUTE, IN. – (Tuesday, August 12, 2008) – It didn’t take long for the Redhawks soccer team to hit the field after opening up preseason camp five days ago as they took on Missouri Valley Conference school Indiana State in a road exhibition game in Terre haute, Indiana on Tuesday afternoon. The Redhawks showed no rust as they defeated the Sycamores 3-2 in the first of three exhibition games they will play before their season opener against Saint Louis University on August 22.

The Redhawks, who were named the OVC preseason favorite on Monday, took no time in scoring the game’s first goal of the game as senior Casey Kraft placed a header into the back corner off a perfectly placed corner kick by fellow senior Megan McGrath six minutes into the game.

Six minutes later the Redhawks added another goal when junior Lauren Lacopo corralled a pass from freshman Nikki Edwards and blasted a shot from just outside the right corner of the 18-yard box that sailed over the fingertips of Sycamore goalkeeper Taylor Nelson into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

The Sycamore’s got on the board shortly after Lacopo’s goal. Whitney McInnis fed Alison Gasparovich in the box who took a couple dribbles and placed the ball past Redhawks goalkeeper Rachel Harrington at the 14-minute mark cutting the Redhawks lead in half, 2-1.

At the 17:25 mark the Redhawks added a goal by Ashley Runion to push their lead back to two goals. Runion received a cross from sophomore Gabrielle Eisenberg in the box a pushed it across Nelson for the team’s final goal of the game.

The Redhawks patented defense then took over as they held the Sycamores scoreless in the second half and the first 13 minutes of a scheduled third period.

The Sycamore’s tallied the final goal of the game when Amanda Gogel beat Harrington on a 50-50 ball and placed the ball in the back of the empty net.

Senior Nicole Bussman led the Redhawks with two shots on goal.

The Redhawks were outshot by the Sycamores 9-5 but made their shots count as they scored three goals on four shots in the first half.

The Sycamores also won the battle of penalty kicks 2-1 but the Redhawks made their one opportunity count thanks to the McGrath-Kraft connection.

Harrington got the win in goal as she allowed two goals and recorded one save.

The Redhawks conclude the exhibition season this weekend with two home games starting with a match-up with Arkansas State on Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Houck Stadium followed by a game against the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday at 7:00 p.m.