Women's soccer team drops 12th straight
By James Hornett, October 15, 2008
The Grizzlies stretch their winless streak to 12 with a loss to Millikin University Tuesday. The Grizzlies fell to the Big Blue 5-0 in Decatur, Illinois.
The Big Blue play in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, which contains several very good teams.
“(Millikin) compete in the conference with bragging rights to three national championships in the past four years,” said coach Scott Moulton. The defending champion title belongs to Wheaton, Ill.
“They are a tough team and play in the toughest conference in the nation in my opinion,” said Moulton.
The Grizzlies traveled over to Decatur with 12 players with only 10 healthy.
Seniors Jessica McElvoy and Olivia Lower as well as sophomores Syd Surface and Chelsea Parks all were sidelined for the game. McElvoy is still fighting a foot injury along with Surface battling a back strain and Parks still recovering from a concussion suffered last Wednesday at Mt. St. Joseph’s.
“We have been bitten pretty hard with the injury bug recently and are down to ten healthy players. We need to stay healthy with the woman we have,” Moulton said.
Junior Shay Skene began her second game of the year in goal and is still fighting her deep tissue bruise suffered in her shin-on-shin collision suffered at Mt. St. Joseph’s as well.
“We play to the level of our opponents, so we should play very competitive and close down space, not allowing Millikin to turn and face the goal,” Moulton said.
Millikin (11-5, 1-3 CCWI) began the scoring quickly with a goal in the second minute. Sophomore Allison Horne put the Big Blue on top 1-0. Horne also added two goals to her first for a hat trick.
The second goal of the match came off the foot of sophomore Brittany Belrichard in the 13th minute. Belrichard’s goal was assisted by fellow sophomore Meghan Schroeder. The scoring in the half closed in the 26th minute with Horne’s kick passed Skene.
The Big Blue put 12 shots on goal with the Grizzlies not able to net a shot in the first half. Skene put a solid showing up stopping nine shots.
The scoring didn’t cease in the match with the Big Blue striking in the 56th minute off of Belrichard’s foot. Belrichard scored her second goal of the contest with an assist from freshman Jessica Ludwig.
A shot ten minutes later the Big Blue capped the scoring with Horne accomplishing her hat trick. Skene faced another 12 shots stopping 10.
The Grizzlies took a new form of offense in the second half. Senior Katie Hartman, sophomore Jena Elder, freshman Stephany Derengowski and junior Rachel Whipker moved up to play offense. This move sent freshmen Brittany Muston, Sarah Hume, Lauren Hawes and sophomore Courtney Theobald to play the defense in the game. Skene and freshman Dez Esper played the same positions the entire 90 minutes.
Whipker hit the ground after a 50/50 ball and suffered a rolled ankle as a result.
“We played a woman down the entire game and allowed five goals,” Moulton said. “And for the last 24 minutes we were without Rachel as well and we did not allow a goal. We played a very solid game against the Big Blue and we look forward to Saturday.”
The Grizzlies (1-12, 0-4 HCAC) travel to Ohio on Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest against Bluffton.
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