Oct. 26, 2001
Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Fighting Illini women's soccer team completed regular season conference play tonight with a 4-1 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes on a bitterly-cold night at the Illini Soccer and Track Stadium. Illinois' 6-3-1 record in Big Ten play is the Illini's best regular season conference mark in program history. The Illini move to 8-6-1 overall.
"I'm really excited about the way we are playing. It's been great to watch the program through the building process," head coach Tricia Taliaferro said. "The athletes have stepped up their focus and team play, and I couldn't be prouder."
As for the big win in the final conference contest before the Big Ten tournament, Taliaferro added: "It was definitely big. We had three teams tied below us, so a win was a must. It builds momentum for the Big Ten tournament, but we need to keep the momentum through the next two nonconference games. We need to continue to play well against Illinois State and Northern."
The Illini came out attacking, firing four shots on goal in the first ten minutes of the contest. Senior Colleen Joyce was the first Illini to find the back of the net, connecting on a pass from Laura Freeman 11:33 into the contest.
With 5:30 to play in the first period, Iowa's Sarah Lynch snuck a rebound shot past Illinois goalkeeper Leisha Alcia to knot the game at one going into halftime.
It was all Illinois in the second half as Joyce scored her second goal of the contest, her tenth of the year, at the 58:57 mark on an assist from Hollie Schurr. Eight minutes later, Schurr and Tara Hurless combined to assist Tiffani Walker on her first goal of the night. At the 77 minute mark, Laura Freeman connected on a give and go from Christine Sinak to cap off the scoring, giving the Illini a 4-1 victory.
"It's exciting. We knew we needed to win it," Joyce said. "Now is the time to peak, and we knew we needed to finish this one off."
The Illinois offense continued to play a tough game, firing 27 shots. Fourteen Illinois shots were on goal compared the the Hawkeyes who only took 14 shots, six on goal.
The Illini host Illinois State in the final home contest of the regular season on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Illini will honor their four seniors for their hard work and dedication in a pregame ceremony.
With the win, the Illini clinched the third seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which will be held Nov. 8-11 in West Lafayette, Ind.
