Girls soccer: Uni shuts down Charleston's top scorer, wins 3-1

Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)Freshman Amanda Hwu (22) shows her defensive prowess as she denies possession to Charleston scoring sensation Molly Ball (2). Hwu and her teammates frustrated the Charleston senior throughout today's 3-1 victory over the Lady Trojans.

By Gargoyle Staff
Published: Tuesday, April 8, 2008 - 10:01pm

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UNI GIRLS SOCCER vs. CHARLESTON AT A GLANCE

When: Tuesday, April 8

Where: DCR Soccer Complex, Florida and Lincoln avenues, Urbana

Varsity result: Uni 3, Charleston 1

Varsity record: 3-1-1 overall, 0-0 East Central Illinois Conference

Uni highlights: Midfielders Amanda Hwu and Zoë Schein were stellar on defense as the Illineks frustrated Charleston's high-powered attack. Erika Belmont, Joy Shapley, and Michelle Wong accounted for Uni's scoring.

JV result: Charleston 2, Uni 1 (JV record: 1-2-2)

POSTGAME COMMENTS:
ERIKA BELMONT
Click to listen (2:22)

Sophomore forward Erika Belmont talks about Uni's 3-1 victory over
Class AA Charleston.

URBANA — Charleston's Molly Ball entered today's contest against Uni High with nine goals to her credit in just two games.

Last year, when the Class AA Lady Trojans hosted the Illineks, Ball scored four times in the second half, turning what had been a 1-1 tie into a 7-1 Charleston rout.

So how did Uni head coach Phil Anders propose to deal with the scoring sensation this year? Easy. He assigned freshman Amanda Hwu to shadow Ball throughout the game.

The result? Hwu and her teammates held the senior scoreless as the host Illineks surprised Charleston 3-1.

The nonconference victory ended a two-game scoring drought and raised the Illineks' record to 3-1-1. It was the team's second win this season over a Class AA school. The girls began the 2008 campaign with a 2-1 shocker over Centennial.

Charleston, which won an AA regional title last year, dropped to 1-2 on the season. The Lady Trojans had defeated Decatur Eisenhower and lost to Mattoon, both AA schools.

Sophomore Erika Belmont put Uni on the board first today when she scored in the 14th minute, finishing off a pass from junior Joy Shapley. It was Belmont's second goal of the year.

Some 26 minutes later, just before halftime, Shapley notched a goal herself after senior Shara Esbenshade set up the score. The 2-0 advantage marked the first time this season Uni went into halftime with a lead.

During the first 40 minutes of the game, the Illineks enjoyed the advantage of the wind at their backs. According to Anders, there was some concern that Charleston's prolific offense would come to life when the teams reversed field positions.

But Hwu, working with senior midfielder Zoë Schein, continued to frustrate the high-scoring Ball as the Illineks maintained their shutout through most of the second half.

Uni's Michelle Wong put the game out of reach in the 56th minute when she scored off a pass from senior Suran Yoo. It was the sophomore's second goal of the year.

Charleston didn't get on the board until eight minutes remained in the contest. By that point, Hwu, Schein, and all but one of Uni's field starters were out of the game as Anders gave his bench players a chance to get some varsity experience.

After Charleston's Kristen Elsila prevented the shutout with an unassisted goal, Uni's starters returned to the field, and the Lady Trojans never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Sarah Pfander, in her first season as varsity goalkeeper, was solid once again in front of the net. The senior recorded nine saves, six of them in the first half. She has given up only six goals in five games.

The Illineks outshot Charleston 18-12. The only downside to today's contest was the absence of senior forward Aran Yoo, who sat out because of a recurring foot injury.

Uni's next match will be on Thursday, when the team visits Macon Meridian.

In JV action, Charleston defeated Uni 2-1. The Illineks fell behind 2-0 in the first half. Sophomore Katie Buzard scored for Uni with three minutes left in the game on an assist by freshman Revathi Maturi.

The Illineks outshot Charleston 15-10. Goalkeeper Sheri Grill made six saves in the first half. Fellow junior Lor Sligar made two saves in the second half.

The Uni JV record is now 1-2-2.

For more statistics and details about the varsity and JV contests with Charleston, check out the Gargoyle Scoreboard, which includes coach Phil Anders' game reports.

Sophomore Michelle Wong scored one of Uni's three goals today. Gargoyle photo (click to create a slideshow)

Freshman Amanda Hwu (22) disrupts a Charleston scoring threat.

Senior Sarah Pfander comes up with another save late in today's 3-1 win over Class AA Charleston.

Pfander has given up only six goals in five games.

Junior Jessi Sullivan (right) has been one of Uni's mainstays on defense.

Sullivan mixes it up with a Lady Trojan.

Junior Annie Machesky has been another solid performer for the Illineks.

Pfander gets ready to send the ball downfield.

Hwu's outstanding play on defense has been one of the pleasant surprises of the season so far.

From left, sophomores Elizabeth Russell, Erika Belmont, and Michelle Wong congratulate their Charleston counterparts after today's game.

The Illineks celebrate their victory as they gather around head coach Phil Anders.

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER: 3-1-1 overall, 0-0 East Central Illinois Conference
(home matches listed in bold)

March 25: at Centennial, W 2-1

Story: Believe it! Uni begins season with upset of Centennial varsity
Halftime: Centennial 1, Uni 0
Uni goals: Erika Belmont (53rd minute), Joy Shapley assist; Aran Yoo (75th minute), Isaure Hostetter assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 13 (4, 9)
Shots on goal: Uni 14 (8, 6); Centennial 14 (5, 9)
JV result: Uni 0, Centennial 0
JV Uni goals: None
JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 2; Lor Sligar 4
JV shots on goal: Uni 4 (1, 3); Centennial 6 (2, 4)
Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

March 27: St. Thomas More, W 3-2

Story: Uni makes up two-goal deficit to beat St. Thomas More
Halftime: STM 1, Uni 0
Uni goals: Aran Yoo (51st minute), Suran Yoo assist; A. Yoo (61st minute), S. Yoo assist; Michelle Wong (65th minute), Elizabeth Russell assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 9 (7, 2)
Shots on goal: Uni 19 (7, 12); STM 11 (8, 3)
JV result: Uni 3, STM 0
JV Uni goals: Katie Buzard (18th minute), Katayun Salehi assist; Emma Coverdill (26th minute), Revathi Maturi assist; Coverdill (27th minute), Maturi assist
JV Uni saves: Lor Sligar 2; Sheri Grill 1
JV shots on goal: Uni 9 (4, 5); STM 3 (2, 1)
Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 1: at Urbana, L 2-0

Story: Urbana loss, Monticello tie sidetrack Illineks
Halftime: Urbana 1, Uni 0
Uni goals: None
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 15 (9, 6)
Shots on goal: Uni 15 (7, 8); Urbana 17 (10, 7)
JV result: Urbana 1, Uni 0
JV Uni goals: None
JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 2; Lor Sligar 4
JV shots on goal: Uni 8 (3, 5); Urbana 7 (2, 5)
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 3: Monticello, T 0-0

Story: Urbana loss, Monticello tie sidetrack Illineks
Halftime: Uni 0, Monticello 0
Uni goals: None
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 5 (2, 3)
Uni shots on goal: Uni 18 (4, 14); Monticello 5 (2, 3)
JV result: Urbana 1, Monticello 1
JV Uni goal: Revathi Maturi (first minute), unassisted
JV saves: Lor Sligar 1; Sheri Grill 2
JV shots on goal: Uni 7 (2, 5); Monticello 4 (1, 3)
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 8: Charleston, W 3-1

Story: Uni shuts down Charleston's top scorer, wins 3-1
Halftime: Uni 2, Charleston 0
Uni goals: Erika Belmont (14th minute), Joy Shapley assist; Shapley (40th minute), Shara Esbenshade assist; Michelle Wong (56th minute), Suran Yoo assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 9 (6, 3)
Shots on goal: Uni 18 (12, 6); Charleston 12 (7, 5)
JV result: Charleston 2, Uni 1
JV Uni goal: Katie Buzard (57th minute), Revathi Maturi assist
JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 6; Lor Sligar 2
JV shots on goal: Uni 15 (6, 9); Charleston 10 (8, 2)
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard