Girls soccer: Season ends with 3-0 loss to Williamsville

Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)Freshman Amanda Hwu plays in the midst of a rainstorm during Uni's Class A sectional semifinal game at Williamsville. Hwu is one of several underclassmen who will likely assume a big role on next year's team.

By Gargoyle Staff
Published: Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 8:54pm

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WILLIAMSVILLE — Playing through a constant downpour, No. 1 seed Williamsville shut out Uni 3-0 in a Class A sectional semifinal game this afternoon.

The host Bullets went up 1-0 just 13 minutes into the first half, then put the game away with goals in the 48th and 59th minutes.

Uni's best chance to get on the scoreboard came 20 minutes into the second half, when senior Suran Yoo was awarded a penalty-kick opportunity after Williamsville's Katie Harpring received a yellow card.

Yoo's kick was solid and well placed, but goalkeeper Lydia Holdman made a superb save.

The No. 4 seed Illineks ended their season 11-6-2, a major improvement over last season's 7-8-2 mark, which in turn was dramatically better than Uni's 2006 record of 4-15.

Second-year coach Philip Anders is now 18-14-4 and has the program clearly on the upswing. In fact, today's issue of The News-Gazette named the Illineks a team of the week and ranked them second in the entire area, behind only Class AA Mahomet-Seymour.

Although the Illineks will lose 10 seniors to graduation, five of whom were starters, plenty of talented players will return next season. The team's top three scorers will be back: sophomore Michelle Wong (nine goals, one assist), sophomore Erika Belmont (seven goals, two assists), and junior Joy Shapley (six goals, 11 assists).

Replacing Yoo, an offensive mainstay throughout her career, won't be easy, but a number of underclassmen have shown their abilities on offense, including sophomore Katie Buzard and freshman JV standouts Revathi Maturi and Emma Coverdill.

On defense, freshman Amanda Hwu had a breakout varsity season, and juniors Jessi Sullivan and Annie Machesky were impressive throughout. Sophomore Sian Best also became a factor as the season progressed.

As goalkeeper, senior Sarah Pfander was exemplary. She gave up only 19 scores in 19 games, and she recorded 106 saves. The top candidates to replace her will be juniors Sheri Grill and Lor Sligar.

But the biggest reason to be optimistic about 2009 is the way the Illineks handled a tough schedule in both the regular season and playoffs. There were no mismatches or blowout losses. Four of the team's six defeats were to Class AA schools (Urbana, Mahomet-Seymour, Mattoon, Danville).

The only Class A opponents Uni lost to were Decatur Lutheran, a 2006 sectional champion and state semifinalist, and Williamsville, a 2007 sectional champ and state quarterfinalist.

The Illineks outshot most of their opponents and upset two quality AA teams: Centennial and Charleston.

So with all of that in mind, Uni soccer fans have plenty of good things to look forward to in the coming years.

Junior Joy Shapley pushes the ball upfield against Williamsville. She finished the season as Uni's leader in assists with 11. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to create your own slideshow)

Senior Chelsea Freeland (6), junior Jessi Sullivan (14), and sophomore Sian Best (23) pursue a Williamsville attacker.

Senior Suran Yoo (2) ended the year with five goals and 10 assists.

Sophomore Michelle Wong led the team with nine goals.

Senior Sarah Pfander gets ready to make one of her seven saves against Williamsville.

Playing her first varsity season as keeper, Pfander made 106 saves in 19 games and gave up only 19 goals.

Yoo braces for impact as a Williamsville player launches a shot.

Junior Annie Machesky sends the ball upfield.

Amanda Hwu made an impact this season as a freshman.

The rain never let up.

Yoo prepares for a penalty kick 20 minutes into the second half.

Uni was down 3-0 as Yoo began her scoring attempt.

The kick was solid, but Williamsville's Lydia Holdman made the save.

Senior Beth Peregrine (24) was among the substitutes who saw action late in the game.

Pfander left the net and spent the final minutes of her Uni career playing midfield.

The season ends for Uni. But what a successful season it was: 11-6-2 and a trip to the sectional semifinals. Not bad after going 4-15 just two years ago.

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER: 11-6-2 overall, 3-1 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

April 10: at Macon Meridian, rain out

Game canceled because of rain

April 12: at Normal Calvary Baptist, W 1-0 *

Story: Wong, Belmont team up for winning goal over Normal Calvary
Halftime: Uni 0, Normal Calvary 0
Uni goal: Michelle Wong (50th minute), Erika Belmont assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 0; Lor Sligar 3; Sheri Grill 0
Shots on goal: Uni 21 (12, 9); Normal Calvary 3 (0, 3)
JV result: No game
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 15: Decatur St. Teresa, W 1-0

Story: Illineks dominate again in second consecutive shutout win
Halftime: Uni 1, Decatur St. Teresa 0
Uni goal: Michelle Wong (38th minute), Suran Yoo assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 5 (0, 5)
Shots on goal: Uni 14 (7, 7); Decatur St. Teresa 9 (2, 7)
JV result: Uni 0, Decatur St. Teresa 0
JV Uni goals: None
JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 1; Lor Sligar 1
JV shots on goal: Uni 10 (5, 5); Decatur St. Teresa 2 (1, 1)
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 17: at Decatur Christian, W 6-0 *

Story: Five goals in 15 minutes lead to Uni rout of Decatur Christian
Halftime: Uni 1, Decatur Christian 0
Uni goals: Michelle Wong (38th minute), penalty kick; Suran Yoo (41st minute), Joy Shapley assist; Shapley (43rd minute), Wong assist; Erika Belmont (46th minute), Shapley assist; Belmont (51st minute), Yoo assist; Sarah Pfander (55th minute), Beth Peregrine assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 0 (first half), Sheri Grill 0 (first half), Lor Sligar 2 (second half)
Noteworthy save: Decatur Christian penalty kick in 71st minute saved by Lor Sligar
Shots on goal: Uni 33 (19, 14); Decatur Christian 2 (0, 2)
JV result: No game
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 19: at Macon Meridian (make up of rained-out game), W 4-0

Story: Winning streak continues as Uni shuts out fourth straight opponent
Halftime: Uni 2, Macon Meridian 0
Uni goals: Joy Shapley (fifth minute), Erika Belmont assist; Belmont (11th minute), Shapley assist; Michelle Wong (41st minute), unassisted; Shapley (79th minute), penalty kick
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 0, Sheri Grill 2
Shots on goal: Uni 19 (9, 10); Macon Meridian 2 (0, 2)
JV result: No game
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 22: Mahomet-Seymour, L 3-0

Story: Mahomet-Seymour ends Uni winning streak
Halftime: Uni 0, Mahomet-Seymour 0
Uni goals: None
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 5 (3, 2)
Shots on goal: Uni 9 (2, 7); Mahomet-Seymour 10 (6, 4)
JV result: Mahomet-Seymour 1, Uni 0
JV Uni goals: None
JV Uni saves: Lor Sligar 4; Sheri Grill 7
JV shots on goal: Uni 3 (1, 2); Mahomet-Seymour 15 (5, 10)
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 24: at Mattoon, L 1-0

Scoreboard: Stats and coach Phil Anders' game report
Halftime: Mattoon 1, Uni 0 (goal came off a direct kick)
Uni goals: None
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 9 (2, 7)
Shots on goal: Uni 12 (7, 5); Mattoon 12 (4, 8)
JV result: Mattoon 4, Uni 1
JV Uni goals: Larissa Pittenger (12th minute), Revathi Maturi assist
JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 1, Lor Sligar 2
JV shots on goal: Uni 8 (4, 4); Mattoon 9 (5, 4)
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 26: St. Thomas More, T 1-1

Scoreboard: Stats and coach Phil Anders' game report
Halftime: St. Thomas More 1, Uni 0
Uni goal: Suran Yoo (74th minute), Joy Shapley assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 9 (6, 3)
Shots on goal: Uni 17 (9, 8); St. Thomas More 11 (7, 4)
JV result: Uni 3, St. Thomas More 2
JV Uni goals: STM own goal (16th minute), Larissa Pittenger assist; Lily Smith (28th minute), Revathi Maturi assist; Emma Coverdill (51st minute), Maturi assist
JV Uni saves: Lor Sligar 2; Sheri Grill 1
JV shots on goal: Uni 14 (9, 5); St. Thomas More 7 (5, 2)
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

April 29: Danville, L 3-1

Scoreboard: Stats and coach Phil Anders' game report
Halftime: Danville 1, Uni 0
Uni goal: Joy Shapley (75th minute), Suran Yoo assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 6 (4, 2)
Shots on goal: Uni 16 (8, 8); Danville 8 (5, 3)
JV result: Uni 0, Danville 0
JV Uni goals: None
JV Uni saves: Sheri Grill 1, Lor Sligar 2
JV shots on goal: Uni 12 (4, 8); Danville 4 (1, 3)
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

May 1: Warrensburg-Latham, W 2-1

Story: Uni ends four-game winless streak with upset of Warrensburg-Latham
Halftime: Uni 2, Warrensburg-Latham 0
Uni goals: Michelle Wong (30th minute), Shara Esbenshade assist; Suran Yoo (39th minute), Joy Shapley assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 2 (0, 2 — penalty kick saved at 55th-minute mark)
Shots on goal: Uni 15 (9, 6); Warrensburg-Latham 4 (1, 3)
JV result: Warrensburg-Latham 2, Uni 1
JV Uni goal: Revathi Maturi (7th minute), Larissa Pittenger assist
JV Uni saves: Lor Sligar 0; Sheri Grill 2
JV shots on goal: Uni 10 (8, 2); Warrensburg-Latham 4 (1, 3)
JV record: 2-5-4 overall, 0-0 East Central Illinois Conference
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard

May 3: Judah Christian, W 7-0 *

Story: Illineks celebrate Senior Day with 7-0 win over Judah Christian
Halftime: Uni 2, Judah Christian 0
Uni goals: Suran Yoo (6th minute), Jessica Stark assist; Zoë Schein (9th minute), Stark assist; Shara Esbenshade (42nd minute), Yoo assist; Erika Belmont (60th minute), Joy Shapley assist; Shapley (63rd minute), Esbenshade assist; Schein (75th minute), direct kick after Yoo was fouled 25 yards out; Chelsea Freeland (79th minute), Yoo assist
Uni saves: Sarah Pfander 0, Sheri Grill 1
Shots on goal: Uni 37 (20, 17); Judah Christian 0 (0, 0)
JV result: No game
JV record: 2-5-4 overall, 0-0 East Central Illinois Conference
Game stats and coach's report: Gargoyle scoreboard