For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

October 22, 2008

red devils Denied upset on own goal in final 2 minutes

Boxscore

Eureka College almost threw a monkey wrench into the SLIAC women's soccer playoff race Wednesday afternoon. Instead, the Red Devils walked away from their 3-2 loss to Fontbonne feeling like someone had used a monkey wrench to rip out their hearts.

Or, perhaps the soccer gods are not fans of figuring out multi-team tie-breakers. Had Eureka (8-11, 2-5 SLIAC) been able to pull off the upset, it may well have set up a messy three-way tie, in which the Red Devils would have been involved, for the final spot in the conference tournament. But it was not to be on a blustery day in Eureka as the Griffins (10-7-1, 5-2 SLIAC) benefited from a pair of own goals, with the last coming with just 1:58 remaining in regulation that proved to be the winning margin.

The first three shots on goal of the match belonged to Fontbonne, but it was Eureka's lone senior, Kate Huizinga (Downers Grove, Ill./South) that would draw first blood on Senior Day. She was sent behind the defense thanks to a well timed pass by Kelsey Baruzzini (Metamora, Ill./HS), juked around the keeper, and finished into the empty net to put EC ahead 1-0 in the 19th minute.

Fontbonne went on to dominate possession of the ball for the rest of the half, though the only goal the Griffins could score came on an own goal as a pass was redirected into the Eureka net with 12:31 left before intermission. The Griffins out-shot EC 21-1 in the period, but GraceAnn Zastrow (N. Freedom, Wis./Reedsburg) made 10 saves to keep the Red Devils tied at 1-1 going into the break.

Fontbonne kept the pressure on to begin the second half. The Griffins hit a post and added two other shots on goal before moving ahead 2-1 with 23 minutes to play on a goal by Kendra Schilli.

Now trailing for the first time on the day, the Red Devils came back with renewed spirit in hopes to finding the equalizer. Their big chance came off a corner kick served into the box by KT Zapushek (Metamora, Ill./HS). The ball slipped through the keeper's hands to the foot of Huizinga, but her shot was stopped by the goalie. The ball remained loose momentarily before finally ending up rolling over the goal line. Baruzzini was credited with the tally with 14:32 remaining.

Neither side was able to generate any clean looks at the goal as Eureka did a superb job of clogging up the middle of the field in its own end. Just as overtime was beginning to become a probability, Schilli of Fontbonne made a run to the right of the Eureka goal. Approaching the end line, she crossed the ball to in front of the Eureka net, despite no teammates being there to receive the pass. However, as fate would have it, the ball bounced off a Eureka defender into the goal. Making matters even worse for the Red Devils, they had only 1:58 left to try to tie the score again and they could not pull it off.

Zastrow finished with 16 saves and an 84.2 save percentage. Fontbonne fired 38 shots to Eureka's four resulting in a 19-4 advantage in shots on goal. Huizinga, who increased her single season record for goals with her 15th of the year, also had an assist, giving her 34 points for the season, which also breaks a school record.

The winner of Red Devils final game of the season at Westminster College will finish in sixth place in the league standings and be one of the few squads in the country to end on a winning note. The game will be Sunday, October 26 at 2:00 pm.

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For More Information Contact:

Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu