Sept. 28, 2001

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NORMAL, Ill.-Erin Blaedow and Amy Oechsner scored first-half goals to help UWM (5-2, 2-0 Horizon) hang on and defeat Illinois State, 2-1, Friday afternoon at Adelaide Street Field.

The Panthers were outshot, 19-7, by the Redbirds. UWM sophomore goalkeeper Kerri St. Aubin tallied nine saves on the game, including a 1v1 attempt in the final minute of regulation.

"This was a tough one," UWM coach Michael Moynihan said. "They were a very good team. Very fast and physical, and they had a lot of dangerous players. Illinois State was the most dangerous best team we've played this season."

Blaedow's goal came in the 18th minute when she headed in a corner kick from Julie Ruma. Oechsner scored the game winner unassisted in the 38th minute, after swiping a loose ball and outrunning the Redbird defense for a 1v1 with ISU's goalkeeper.

Illinois State finally hit the back of UWM's net late in the game when Sheila Bryant scored unassisted in the 83rd minute. ISU knocked hard near the end, but were unable to finish past St. Aubin to tie up the game.

"We played with a certain tone mentally," Moynihan said. "It was the toughested I've seen us play in a long time. The players are really coming together and they're developing a mental toughness that makes them a dangerous team. At 5-2 now, the test will be to keep up the same intensity throughout the season."

Milwaukee hosts Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at Engelmann Field. The Panthers have won five straight games now, the longest winning streak since 1996, when UWM won six consecutive matches to go 9-9-1 on the season.