DES MOINES, Iowa ?Robyn Ruypers scored two goals for Western Illinois' women's soccer team in a come from behind win as the Westerwinds knocked off Drake University 3-2 Tuesday night. Ruypers scored the game-winning goal after slicing through the Bulldog defense to seal the game.
“I don't know how to describe how I feel about this team right now,” said Kevin Sherry. “Words cannot describe of how proud I am of this team. We battled so hard and never gave up. I have never felt this proud of any team I have coached.”
It wasn't a joyful night early for the Westerwinds after they went down 1-0 and then watched sophomore
Paige Stark go down with an injury. Drake then poured more salt on the wound when it scored again off of a Sarah Foote goal to go up 2-0.
That's when the Western offense woke up.
“They really wanted to win this for Paige,” said Sherry. “She had a knee injury coming in to Western and our team was really heartbroken and they used that as motivation to get the win tonight.”
Right off of the restart, the Westerwinds pushed down the field and
Kelly Warner gave Ruypers a through pass to give Western its first goal in the 40th minute just 13 seconds after Foote's goal.
Katelyn Wisner then got in on the action when she tied the game at two on a through pass from
Ashley Hoch in the 66th minute.
Robyn Ruypers scored the game-winner in the 82nd minute. With both goal Ruypers now has five goals on the season, which takes her point total up to 12 for the year. She now sits just seven points behind Amanda Wandtke for Western's all-time scoring record with 50 points. Ruypers has 43. She also is just three goals away from tying Wandtke for the school's all-time goals record. Ruypers has 16 career goals.
“Wow, I am just amazed at what she has done,” said Sherry. “She is absolutely amazing. She has improved so much over the last couple of years.”
Western (7-4-0) is now 3-1 versus teams from the Missouri Valley Conference with the win over Drake (4-4-1). The Westerwinds also own a pair of wins against Northern Iowa. The only loss came at the hands of Indiana State.
“They are just playing so well right now,” said Sherry. “When you beat a team that is so powerful, technical, strong and as well knows as Drake, then you've really done something. They are surprising me and that is saying something.”
Western Illinois will end its six-game road trip this week with a pair of games in Cedar City, Utah. The Westerwinds will play Southern Utah in a Mid-Con game Friday, Sept. 29, at 4 p.m. and will play Weber State Saturday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. (both games are CDT).
