After starting last week with a tough loss at Charleston on a very soggy field, the Illineks came back with two easy wins over the next three days. Now 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the East Central Illinois Conference, Uni plays three teams from Decatur this week. The girls will start with nonconference opponent Decatur St. Teresa today on the road, followed by ECIC foes Decatur Lutheran and Decatur Christian at home Thursday and Friday, respectively. The Illineks would clinch the conference title if they win both of those latter games. In the meantime, here is a look back at last week's action in more detail.

Wednesday, April 15: Charleston 4, Uni 1

CHARLESTON — Playing on a muddy, soggy field on the road against a Class 2A team proved just too much of a challenge for the Illineks on Wednesday, as they fell to Charleston 4-1 in a nonconference game.

The game was originally scheduled to be played Tuesday, but it was postponed due to poor field conditions. The next day, despite barely improved conditions on the ground, the game was played anyway.

"It was harder to kick the ball in certain areas and harder to pass people, harder to run," said junior midfielder Michelle Wong.

"It was not a pleasant experience," added head coach Philip Anders. "We were standing in six inches of mud and water on the bench, and that was as bad as it was on the field. … It sort of resembled soccer, but it was a brawl."

Charleston scored the first goal eight minutes into the first half, on an unassisted goal by Holly Wohltman. In the 26th minute, a corner kick gave the Lady Trojans a 2-0 lead.

The Illineks would strike back right before the end of the half. Junior forward Katie Buzard scored her fourth goal of the season with three minutes left before halftime. Uni outshot Charleston 7-6, but the hosts took a 2-1 lead into the break.

Uni couldn't come back in the second half, despite 10 shots on goal. Charleston struck early, scoring on a corner kick just four minutes into the half. None of Uni's shots got past keeper Brittany O'Dell. With just over two minutes left in the game, the Lady Trojans wrapped up the win with a corner kick, their third converted corner kick of the game.

"Their style fit it a little more," said Anders, "and [the style] was just getting under the ball, and just hitting it and running."

The Uni JV also lost, falling to Charleston 2-0.

But the Illineks would play much better the next day.

Thursday, April 16: Uni 7, Macon Meridian 0

URBANA — Coming off a wet, muddy loss at Charleston the day before, Uni wasn't going to lose on a dry field.

The Illineks defeated nonconference opponent Macon Meridian 7-0 at home Thursday. It was their fifth shutout win of the season and the fourth victory in which they've scored at least six goals.

Not only was the Uni attack relentless, but the defense was outstanding. Led by senior Annie Machesky, juniors Sian Best, Isaure Hostetter, Isabel Vazquez, and sophomore Amanda Hwu, the Illinek defenders refused to allow a shot on goal to the Hawks.

Uni didn't get on the scoreboard until late in the first half, but once the offense got on track, the visitors were unable to stop it. Junior Michelle Wong began the scoring in the 32nd minute with her first of two goals on the afternoon, finishing an assist from classmate Erika Belmont.

Six minutes later, Belmont scored a goal of her own, on a play at the top of the penalty box off an assist from sophomore Emma Coverdill.

But the real action came after halftime. Belmont and Coverdill teamed up again 10 minutes into the half for a 3-0 Uni lead. Five minutes later, Wong scored again, this time on an assist by junior Katie Buzard.

Two minutes after that, Wong and Belmont teamed up again, with Belmont scoring on a corner kick. One minute later, Buzard scored on an assist from Wong, giving Uni a 6-0 lead on four goals in just nine minutes.

Freshman Abigail Radnitzer scored Uni's final goal in the 71st minute on a crossing shot from senior Joy Shapley.

The JV's game against Meridian ended in a scoreless tie. Uni was scheduled to play its third game in three and a half days on Saturday, but would the team be able to keep up the pace?

Saturday, April 18: Uni 6, Normal Calvary Baptist 0

URBANA — Ten different Illineks scored points and Uni outshot its opponent 29-0 in a 6-0 conference victory over Normal Calvary Baptist, improving to 6-0 against 1A teams on the year. The Illineks have also won their last four games at home this year.

Uni's offensive output was overpowering and constant. The 29 shots on goal set a new season high; anyone who watched the game for 25 minutes would have been guaranteed to see a Uni goal.

Junior Michelle Wong began the scoring in the 11th minute on a rebound off a corner kick from classmate Erika Belmont. Wong now has eight goals on the season, tied for third among The News-Gazette's area leaders.

In the 25th minute, junior Elizabeth Allen scored her first goal of the season off a crossing shot from senior Joy Shapley. Three minutes later, sophomore Revathi Maturi also found the net for the first time this year, after a scramble coming off a strong shot from junior Isaure Hostetter.

Sophomore Heather Lin capped the first-half scoring with an assist from freshman Vivian Hagerty. Uni managed 18 shots on goal in the half.

Belmont added a goal in the 55th minute on Shapley's second assist. The junior now has 10 goals on the year, tied for most in The News-Gazette area. Two juniors teamed up for a goal with under two minutes left in the match, with Elizabeth Russell finishing a rare deep shot from defender Sian Best.

The Illineks improved to 7-3 on the year and 2-0 in the conference with the win. All three losses have come to class 2A teams — Central, Centennial, and Charleston. The Illineks have outscored their opponents 37-1 in their seven wins.

After three games against Class 1A opponents from Decatur this week — St. Teresa, Lutheran, and Christian — Uni's next game against a higher-tiered team comes at Mahomet-Seymour on April 28.