ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — Illinois Springfield rallied from a halftime deficit to stun Lewis 2-1 on Friday night, snapping a four-game losing streak for the visiting Prairie Stars. Mallory Herber's 81st-minute corner kick goal proved decisive as the away team capitalized on set-piece opportunities to secure a crucial regional victory.
Lewis controlled much of the first half and broke through when Addison Wittenberg found the back of the net in the 17th minute, giving the Flyers a 1-0 advantage heading into intermission. The home squad's early dominance reflected in their shot advantage, but Illinois Springfield's defensive adjustments in the second half shifted momentum dramatically.
Talia Kaempf equalized for Lewis in the 72nd minute with a right-footed strike, momentarily silencing the visiting contingent and setting up a tense final stretch. The goal appeared to energize the Flyers, who pressed forward seeking a winner. However, Illinois Springfield's resilience proved decisive.
Herber capitalized on a corner kick in the 81st minute, firing a left-footed shot into the lower left corner to give the Prairie Stars their first lead of the match. The goal withstood Lewis's desperate final push, as Illinois Springfield's goalkeeper Gigi Yurevich made five saves to preserve the victory.
Illinois Springfield's defense tightened considerably after halftime, limiting Lewis to just one shot on goal in the second 45 minutes. The Prairie Stars' four shot attempts proved more efficient than Lewis's 17 total attempts, with the away team converting two of their limited opportunities.