Windy women's soccer thriller
By: Will Fairfax
Published: 9.21.12
Despite the blustery conditions on Wednesday night in Chicago, the women's soccer team won against Illinois Tech 2-1, scoring the winning goal with 41 seconds left in the game.
Illinois Tech was with the wind in the first half and was able to dominate the possession. They capitalized at the end of the first half with a goal.
The Trojans turned it around in the second half when they had the wind and were able to create many more scoring chances.
Taylor scored their first goal with eight minutes left in the game off a corner kick. Senior Emily Von Raesfeld crossed the ball into the box, and the ball hit the post where sophomore Amanda Roden headed it in the goal.
Taylor kept fighting for another goal and had their last opportunity to score with less than a minute to go on a corner kick. The Trojans seized the chance - Von Raesfeld crossed the ball into the box, and it was popped up in the air by an Illinois Tech defender before being headed in by senior Leah Beck.
Taylor outshot the Scarlet Hawks 17-6 with a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal. Sophomore Kristiana Griffith had three saves in goal.
"It was extremely windy, and in the first half, we had to defend most of the time because it was hard to get the ball," said head coach Scott Stan. "And in the second half we could move the ball pretty well with the wind, and when we scored the tying goal it felt like we had momentum and that we were going to win."
Stan said Von Raesfeld's performance really stood out, especially with her direct kicks and corner kicks.
"It was a really windy day there, and so I made sure that when I kicked the corner kicks that I kicked them out far enough so that the wind wouldn't affect them." Von Raesfeld said. "And we were able to finish off of both of them. I was just really focusing on getting it where the girls could just finish and score."
The victory improves the Trojans' record to 6-1 on the year, with their only defeat occurring in overtime.
Von Raesfeld has high expectations for her team and thinks they have all the pieces to win the conference.
"I think this team can go all the way as long as we keep working hard and just (keep) putting all of our effort into it and ultimately glorifying God with all that he's given us," she said.
The Trojans are currently in first place in the Crossroads League with one more win than Indiana Wesleyan.
Taylor's next game is at home Sept. 22 versus St. Mary-of-the-Woods before Crossroads League play begins Tuesday at home against Grace.
