TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- The SIUE women's soccer team guaranteed itself a winning 2010 season Friday, defeating the Indiana State Sycamores 2-0 at Memorial Stadium.

The Cougars, 8-4-1, snapped a two-game losing streak with the win. SIUE also improved to 3-3-1 on the road with the victory.

"I'm really proud of the way they bounced back," SIUE Head Coach Derek Burton said. "They did a good job of applying the things we talked about this week. They worked really hard."

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead into the half Friday night, thanks to a goal by Devon Thomas in the 32nd minute. The goal, Thomas' second of the year, came off a corner kick by Ashley Davidson.

"Devon made a great run in," Burton said. "She did a good job getting to her spot."

The Cougars' second goal came in the 84th minute on a counter attack.

"We caught them with odd numbers back," Burton said. "They were really pushing forward."

Chelsea Smith found Kristin Dierker who beat ISU goalkeeper Emily Lahay to make it 2-0 SIUE.

"Chelsea played a perfect ball to Kristin who was coming in from the right," Burton said. "(Kristin) timed her run perfectly."

The goal was the fourth of the year for Dierker which ties her for the most goals on the team. She leads the team in points with nine.

SIUE also earned its seventh shutout of the season Friday night. Junior goalkeeper Claire Lovercheck made five saves en route to her sixth blanking of the year.

"We applied the things we wanted to defensively," Burton said. Indiana State, which was hosting its senior night, dropped to 7-7-1 with the loss.

"Anytime you can go on the road and beat someone on a Friday night, on their senior night, that's a big game," Burton said.

The Cougars are back in action Wednesday night when they host Illinois State at Korte Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. The game is the first of a double-header with the men's team.