Red Devils Pick Up First Win, Edge Lincoln Christian, 3-2

LINCOLN, Ill. – First-year EC women's soccer coach Shelby Chrisman-Forza called it "a turning point in our program, the beginning of something magical."

The Red Devils traveled to Lincoln Christian on Friday afternoon and slayed the Red Lions 3-2, claiming the program's first win since Sept. 9, 2016.

"The amount of heart and unrelenting effort they gave was truly incredibly," a fired-up Chrisman-Forza said after the cathartic victory. "Bringing together 12 athletes together from all walks of life and believing in what we are building is absolutely astounding."

Program newcomers Michaela Mall (Princeton, Ill./Princeton) and Madison Shines (Maregno, Ill./Marengo Community) continued their quality form and led the way up top for the Red Devils.

Mall started things off with a one-touch strike in the fifth minute of play on an assist by Shines. Then, in the 14th minute, Shines made it 2-0 off an assist by Mall.

EC held a 2-0 lead until the Red Lions got on the board in the 39th minute after an unassisted effort by Audrey Henningsen. The strike from about 12 yards out found the far post and cut the Red Devils' lead in half.

Up 2-1, the Red Devils went into halftime with the lead for the first time all season. 

Lincoln Christian equalized in the 67th minute, when Henningsen again went all the way down the sideline from midfield, cut in with her left foot and converted on a near-post shot. 

The Red Devils, however, took the lead for good  in the 74th minute when Shines put her second goal of the game into the back of the net after taking it away from the Red Lions' defense. The match-winner was a no-doubt rocket that found the far-post without giving the goalie a chance to make the save.

Eureka now hold a 1-7 record heading into next Saturday's St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest against Webster back home at McKinzie Field.

"This result," Chrisman-Forza said, "shows that we will not give up until the final whistle."