MACOMB, Ill.- Senior
Misako Inaba scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Western Illinois women's soccer team defeated IUPUI 2-1 in the last home game of the season at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.
“There's something about this team this year,” said Western Illinois head coach Tony Guinn. “It's very difficult to beat to us. We never give up, we play very hard and play to the last second. If you keep plugging away in a game, good things will happen, and it happened today.”
In 97th minute of the game, Inaba (Kashiwa, Japan/Yachiyoshoin) received a ball from junior
Katelyn Wisner (Lenexa, Kan./Olathe East), and unloaded a shot from 25 yards out. The ball bounced off the fingertips of IUPUI (3-11-3, 2-4-1 Summit League) keeper Jamie Farrell and rolled into the back of the net. It was Inaba's second game-winning goal within a week, after recording a game-winner in the 2-1 double overtime victory at North Dakota State, Sept. 20.
“It's a great feeling to score two game-winning goals,” stated Inaba. “But it's not just me, this team works really hard and I'm happy we're winning.”
“Misako is an unbelievable soccer player,” said Guinn. “She has an unbelievable soccer mind. She has great technical ability and finds players no one else can even see. In my eyes, she's a five-foot-three superstar.”
The Jaguars got on the board first in the 50th minute of the game when senior Angie Pilat found herself one-on-one with Westerwinds (13-2-2, 6-0-0 Summit League) keeper senior
Julie Remes (Arden Hills, Minn. (Totino Grace). Pilat sneaked it by Remes and into the left side of the goal.
Western Illinois evened the game at one in the 80th minute of the game on a goal by freshmen
Kelsey Pillsbury (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood). After receiving a pass from junior
Lainey Bruhn (Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley West), sophomore
Keeley Murray (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf) sent a cross into the box. Pillsbury found herself unmarked and was able to head the ball past Farrell.
“Keeley (Murray) sent me a great cross from the corner to set up my goal,” stated Pillsbury. “It was unbelievable, I'm still trying to take it all in.”
The match against IUPUI marked the last home game in the careers of eight senior Westerwinds. They include
Angie Guy (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption),
Kelly Warner (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard South),
Robyn Ruypers (Petrolia, Ontario/Lambton Central Collegiate), Inaba,
Bess Rapp (Lincoln, Neb./Southeast),
Liz Remes (Arden Hills, Minn./Totino Grace),
Julie Remes, and
Delaine Pattison (Calgary, Alberta/Bowness).
Pattison started the game and played for the first 10 minutes of the game. It was her first minutes as a Westerwind, suffering injuries early in her career.
“It was great to see Delaine play,” said Rapp. “Us seniors have seen her go through three surgeries and still stick with us. I think it meant the world to her to get to step out on the field.”
Western Illinois will finish out the regular season as they travel to play Centenary Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., and Oral Roberts Nov. 4, at 2 p.m.
