DeKALB | An ugly pattern is starting to form for the NIU women’s soccer team, as the Huskies were shut out on Friday for the third time this young season.

After the game, the scoreboard read 1-0. Just as it did last weekend, when the Huskies (2-3-0) were shut out against Loyola. Except this time, the NIU offense sputtered against the Redbirds of Illinois State.

The Redbirds’ (4-2-0) Anna Stinson scored the only goal of the contest in the 17th minute when she one-timed a pass from teammate Kyla Cross. While Illinois State head coach Drew Roff liked what he saw on the goal, he thought his team took its foot off the gas after the tally.

“Kyla Cross pulled off a real nice move, and put it across the goal mouth to Anna [Stinson] who put it away for a nice goal,” Roff said. “But after the goal, I thought we stopped attacking, and I think we are a little fortunate not to come out of here with a draw.”

Even without a lot of goal support, NIU head coach Carrie Barker has liked what she’s seen this season.

“The effort has been unbelievable,” Barker said. “I can’t stress enough how hard these girls have worked. Just for a few minutes today we made some mistakes that led to a goal.”

Barker believes the lack of offense this year can be traced back to the goals given up by the Huskies.

“Whenever we give up a goal, we immediately have to start digging ourselves out of a hole,” Barker said. “So, the offense will come along as we continue this effort, and stop giving up those early goals.”

Going forward, freshman goalkeeper Amy Carr still believes in the team’s potential.

“We weren’t as organized as we should have been in the first half,” Carr said. “In the second half though, we did everything right. Just a goal never came. But it’s going to happen over the next couple of games as long as we keep doing what we’ve been doing.”