September 29, 2012
LATE LIFT
Tejada gives Redbirds 2-1 win

OMAHA, Neb. – Rachel Tejada broke her three-match goalless streak with her 11th tally of the season in the 89th minute, as Illinois State knocked off Creighton 2-1 Saturday evening at Morrison Stadium.

With the win, the Redbirds improve to 7-3-2 (1-1-0), while Creighton falls to 3-7-2 (0-1-0).
The Redbirds significantly altered their lineup from previous games, looking to rebound from last week’s 4-1 loss at Evansville.

“I thought the team bounced back nicely,” Illinois State head coach Drew Roff said. “They prepared extremely well this week. We had our best week of training, so I knew they would be ready. We had a good game and a good performance.”

With the match tied at 1-1 and winding towards overtime, senior Rachel Bostick played a ball from midfield over the top to Tejada in behind the Bluejay defense. The sophomore chased down the pass before slipping it by CU keeper Katie Jo Swanson, who came off her line in an attempt to snag the ball. It was Tejada’s team-leading third game-winning goal of 2012, and the 10th of her career.

“I knew Bostick was going to get something on it, because it has happened before,” Tejada said. “I was anticipating a pass. The ball came through and the goalie came out a little, but hesitated, so I got to it first and put it in the back of the net.”

ISU opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Bostick, who started at forward despite spending most of the year as a holding midfielder, headed home a cross from Gabbi McArtor. The goal was Bostick’s second of the season, with the other coming in last weekend’s 4-1 loss to the Purple Aces. McArtor, who had previously started every match along the back line, recorded her first-career point with the assist.

The Bluejays equalized just over two minutes later, as senior Brittney Neumann ripped a shot from distance by Mara Kremenovic for her team-leading fifth goal of the season. Kremenovic did not allow another ball to get by her, however, stopping a season-high six saves in her third start of the season.

The Bluejays outshot ISU 17-13, including 11-8 in the second half.

The Redbirds return home for their final non-conference match of 2012 on Wednesday, Oct. 3 against Loyola Chicago at 4 p.m.