Photo courtesy of Ashley Piraino
NORMAL, Ill.- The Illinois State women’s soccer team continue their home stay as they host the visiting University of Utah on Thursday, September 2. The Redbirds are looking to snap their losing streak as they have lost the last three games, putting their overall record at 1-3.
The Redbirds are coming into Thursday’s matchup following a 2-0 loss against Saint Louis on August 29. In that matchup, the Redbirds were outshot 17-9 and gave up two goals. Redbirds Head Coach Brad Silvey expands on his team’s defensive effort.
“If we were gonna give up chances, they were going to be chances that we contested and were competed for in every single moment,”said Silvey. “What we needed to do better was after we defended well, we needed to transition better, we needed to counterattack better, and be more composed to link plays to break their pressure so we could actually build our numbers forward and create more shots for us.”
Thursday’s matchup between the Redbirds and Utah (2-2-0) is only the third game in the all-time series between them. The last time these two teams met was during the 1997 season where Utah defeated the Redbirds 1-0.
Silvey expands on what his team needs to do in order to defeat Utah.
“We need to put together a more comprehensive and a more complete team effort,” said Silvey. “Obviously keeping the ball out of the back of the net helps with that. Like I said earlier, our ability to defend soundly and tightly and composed and compressed but then being able to transition and to build out and to link in some of those moments to break our opponents pressure to allow us to release and to get on the attack, those are gonna be some important moments to us.”
Utah is 3-0 all-time against Missouri Valley schools. Kickoff between the Redbirds and Utah is set for 6pm at Adelaide Street Field.