Uni is one game away from winning its first-ever IHSA regional championship in girls soccer. The No. 1 seed Illineks defeated Decatur St. Teresa 3-1 Monday and will face host Monticello 4 p.m. today. Uni beat St. Teresa with goals by Michelle Wong, Emma Coverdill, and Liz Allen.

After a delay on Saturday due to poor field conditions, the 10-4-3 Illineks will finally begin the Class 1A playoffs with a regional semifinal game this afternoon against Decatur St. Teresa. The contest begins 3 p.m. at Monticello High School. If the No. 1-seeded Illineks win today, they will play for the regional title 4 p.m. Tuesday, also at Monticello.

Uni played Mattoon to a 0-0 tie Thursday in the Illineks' final home game of the season. After the contest, seniors Annie Machesky, Joy Shapley, and Rachel Skoza were honored for their contributions to the team's success. Uni is now 9-3-2 overall with just three varsity games remaining before the IHSA Class 1A playoffs begin.

Today's girls soccer game against Mattoon is still scheduled to be played, but the location has been moved across campus. Instead of being played at Uni's usual home field in Urbana, the game will take place at Turf Field, Stadium and First, Champaign.

Uni wrapped up its East Central Illinois Conference schedule last week by tying Decatur Lutheran 1-1 and beating Decatur Christian 7-0. Although the Illineks would have preferred to win both home games, the results guaranteed them at least a share of the ECIC title.

The Illineks continued to roll Tuesday, traveling to Decatur and shutting out St. Teresa 3-0. It was the team's third straight shutout win and seventh of the year. The Uni defense hasn't given up a shot on goal in the last three outings. The Illineks will host Decatur Lutheran in a conference showdown Thursday.

After a tough road loss Wednesday at Charleston on a field hardly suitable for soccer, the Illineks played like a completely different team the rest of the week, shutting out Macon Meridian the next day and Normal Calvary Baptist on Saturday. In fact, the Uni defense didn't give up a shot on goal in either win. Chris Yoder recaps last week's action.

The Illineks avoided a letdown after their historic victory over Urbana earlier this week by taking care of business today with a 2-0 shutout of Class 1A rival Monticello. Senior Joy Shapley and junior Erika Belmont scored for Uni, and senior goalkeeper Rachel Skoza made seven saves to earn the shutout. The varsity squad is now 5-2 overall and playing very much like one of the better teams in the area, regardless of school size.