Millikin Athletics

Decatur, IL— Millikin University women's soccer hosted their last home game of the regular season Saturday afternoon featuring the Vikings of North Park University for a Collegiate Conference in Illinois and Wisconsin contest. A historic afternoon at Frank M. Lindsay Field resulted in a tie, 2-2; putting the Big Blue at 7-5-4 overall. 

Not even three minutes into the first half, following a steal, Caty Schmidt soared the ball over the head of North Park's goalkeeper to put the Big Blue on the board first (1-0); this marks Schmidt's seventh goal of the season. 

To close out the first 45-minutes of regulation, North Park took their fifth shot of the game to finally score at minute-47 and tie it all up 1-1. Going back-to-back, the Vikings came out on top to close the second half with goal number two at 42:00. 

To make history, junior captain Izzy Jones put in her 17th goal of the season at 75:34, assisted by Julia Skol to even the score 2-2. Jones is now the all-time single-season goals leader in Millikin Women's Soccer history, surpassing the previous record of 16 set by Brittany Belrichard in 2008. 

Jones is making her mark in other areas to put her name in the books. She has also moved to number three in points in a single season with 35, number three in career goals with 29, and number three in career points at 65. 

Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Bearley finished 90 minutes of play with six saves on the Vikings. This landed her at 61 on the season with a 73.5% save percentage. 

"We had bright moments, and we showed that we will never quit," says Head Coach Ian Doherty. The Big Blue didn't let up after being down at the half, shifting the momentum with Jones' big goal in the final countdown avoiding a letdown. 
 

The Big Blue finish conference play on Wednesday, October 28 in Bloomington, Illinois to face Illinois Wesleyan University with kickoff set for 7PM at Neis Field, also being streamed on the CCIW Network.