Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jim Moldenhauer Danielle Mutters (8) and the Redbirds topped EIU 1-0, improving to 9-4-3

In their final game of the regular season, the ISU women's soccer defeated Eastern Illinois University 1-0 in a non-conference game. With this final win, the 'Birds overall record comes to 9-4-3 with a MVC record of 4-0-2.

"Eastern did a nice job against us," head coach Drew Roff said.

"It was their last home game of the season. Both teams were playing non-conference games. Eastern was preparing for their conference tournament and so were we. Yeah, I would have liked to see us put them away, but I was happy with our players. They were mentally tough and they did what they needed to do."

This season has been filled with much success for the Redbirds as they look to prepare for the conference tournament on November 5 against the winner of the Drake/Missouri State game. The 'birds have been playing very hot as of late and will hope to continue this success.

"We need to play well and we need to play 90 minutes," Roff said.

"I don't need to tell the players how important the game is, everybody is aware. Now it's elimination and that is what makes it exciting."

Senior midfielder Yvonne Northover, who won her second Brine MVC Offensive Player of the Week award, was the catalyst once again for the 'birds against EIU. Northover tallied six shots total in the game, and recorded her sixth goal in just as many games. The goal came in the ninth minute of play when Northover was coming up the middle and took a pass from senior forward Bethany Russ. Also tallying shots in the game were freshman midfielder Bethany Brown with three, sophomore midfielder Raquel Rattray with 2, and senior defender Shannon Duggan and Russ with one each. Northover's second conference award wraps up five total awards for the Redbirds and comes at a great time.

"It's up to the players to work hard," Roff said.

"As a coach you have to be optimistic. You have to shoot high, have high goals, and believe in your players. I like to think that I lay out the plan for them and the rest is up to them. I thought we had potential and talent right from the start."

The regular season has gone by very quickly for Roff in his first season, but he will look to finish what he came here to do, win the MVC tournament championship.

"It feels good," Roff said of his first season as head coach at ISU.

"A lot of time and energy was put in and so far we accomplished one of our goals. Now we will look to accomplish the next one. I don't put any pressure on myself. We just control what we can control, and the results take care of themselves."

Roff and the Redbirds will look for the results to produce a MVC tournament championship when they play next Friday, November 5 in Evansville.

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