October 27, 2005 TIGGS BECOMES ALL-TIME POINT LEADER-ISU WINS 2-1 OVER WIU MACOMB, Ill. – The women’s soccer team closed the regular season on a four-game winning streak after posting a victory over the Western Illinois Westerwinds 2-1 on Thursday. The win gives the team momentum heading into the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference playoffs at Illinois State on Sunday. ISU junior Nichole Tiggs began the scoring with a shot from seven yards out off an assist from senior Regan Smith. The goal made Tiggs the all-time point scorer in Indiana State history (48) and tied her as one of the most prolific goal scorers in school history with 19 in her career. Sophomore Sarah Whiteley would add to the lead, and score her first ever collegiate goal at 31:55 off a pass from junior midfielder Beth Wagenhoffer. The goal would eventually be the game winner as Western Illinois could not catch the Sycamores down the stretch. WIU’s Bess Rapp would put the lone score on the board for the Westerwinds with just 58 seconds remaining in the first half. Neither team would add to the lead in the second half despite several shots by both sides. The Sycamores were out shot by the Westerwinds 12 to 10 in the game, but were more accurate with six shots on goal compared to Western Illinois’ five. ISU keeper Rachel Rudzis picked up her fourth consecutive win and is only three wins behind Carey Patton (01-03) in all-time wins at Indiana State. “I was really proud of all the girls today,” head coach Vernon Croft said. “They came out and did what they needed to do to win this game today.” The win gives the Sycamores a 7-8-2 record during the regular season,
second only to last years’ regular season win total of eight.
The women will now prepare for Illinois State and the Missouri Valley
Conference championships with a play-in game against the Redbirds
on Sunday.
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