FORT WAYNE, Ind. - With five minutes remaining in regulation, junior Chrissy Campbell went one-on-one with the Mastodon keeper and came away the victor, burying the match-winning goal in the far post from the left side. The result allowed Western Illinois to knock off conference top seed Fort Wayne 1-0 on Friday (October 26).
The Leathernecks are now 13-4-0 overall and 5-2-0 in league play, and are one victory from clinching the regular season Summit League title. The Mastodons drop to 8-7-1 overall and 4-2-1 in conference action.
Both teams came out firing offensively in the first half. Fort Wayne posted five shots within the first 20 minutes of the match forcing keeper Laura Atkinson to record three saves, while Western sent in two forcing one save.
In the second half, the squads were even in shots taking five apiece, but it was Western that went on to earn the result for the win. Overall, the Mastodons outshot the Leathernecks 13 to 11 in the match.
Atkinson earned her sixth shutout in net bringing her overall record to 8-2-0 on the season. She notched seven saves in the match. Campbell's goal was her first game-winner of the year and fourth of the season.
"It was a tense, pulsating match between two teams that both really wanted to win," head coach Ted
Flogaites said. "The match was wide open and in that sense had to be
exciting for everyone watching. Chrissy Campbell was brilliant for the goal, and the way she worked for the squad tonight was sensational. It's a clean sheet in a tight, topsy turvy match, and the match always had the makings of a one goal game. Credit also to Laura Atkinson for a save early in the second half that was otherwise a surefire goal. The futbol was positive and we brought a lot of energy to the match. We're delighted with the result."
The Leathernecks play their final regular season match at Oakland on Sunday (October 28) in Rochester, Mich. The contest is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
