Danny PfrankGoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Junior goalkeeper Emily Lahay and the Indiana State women's soccer team tallied their second consecutive shutout victory on Sunday afternoon, dropping the visiting IPFW Mastodons by a score of 2-0 at Memorial Stadium in front of 189 fans.
Indiana State (2-2) scored one goal in each half, breaking the scoreless game in the 31st minute. Junior Morgan Wendlandt gave ISU the lead with a free kick from 25 yards out, slipping the ball just under the crossbar and off the outstretched hands of the IPFW goalkeeper.
The Sycamores would add to their lead in the 72nd minute, thanks to the quickness of junior Alison Gasparovich. Gasparovich stole the ball from the IPFW midfielders and slashed her way through the entire Mastodon backline before hitting a left-footed shot past the keeper from 10 yards out.
ISU played solid defense as a unit on Sunday, allowing only eight shots during the contest, with Lahay not having to make a save on the afternoon. The Sycamore backline, consisting of juniors Katie Geyman and Wendlandt, sophomore Casey Allbright and freshmen Autumn Jacobs and Shelby Troyer consistently turned away attacking plays by IPFW and forced the majority of IPFW's eight shots to come from beyond 25 yards from goal.
The shutout was the second consecutive one this season for Lahay in goal and her sixth career clean sheet.
The last time that Indiana State shutout opponents in back-to-back games was in 2008 when the Sycamores made their run to the Missouri Valley Conference championship game. ISU shut out Drake 1-0 in double overtime in the opening round on November 5 before defeating Illinois State 1-0 on November 7 to advance to the title game.
For the game, ISU took 19 shots with eight on goal. IPFW took eight shots, without any on goal. Wendlandt, Gasparovich and junior Seyma Erenli all tallied two shots on goal each with Erenli and Wendlandt both picking up four total shots.
The Sycamores will look to continue their strong play at home this upcoming Sunday, September 5, when the Eastern Illinois Panthers come to Terre Haute. The game is set to kickoff at 1:00 p.m.
Postgame comments from head coach Erika True:
Postgame comments from juniors Morgan Wendlandt and Emily Lahay: