Sept. 20, 2009

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois soccer closed out its non-conference part of the season on a high note, defeating Milwaukee 3-1 on a rainy Sunday at the Illinois Soccer Stadium. Two Illini scored their first goals of the season, with freshman Shayla Mutz scoring twice and junior Christina Sahly also finding the back of the net for the first time in 2009. The Orange and Blue will open Big Ten play next weekend with a 5-3-1 overall record.

"Usually you worry about the energy level on Sunday, but this weekend was the opposite," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "We were flat on Friday but had much more energy today. Milwaukee is a very good team and we battled hard.

"I think we'll enter Big Ten play battle-tested. We need to get ourselves physically and psychologically ready, but our tough non-conference schedule should pay off."

Mutz made the most of her first career start, scoring in the sixth minute to give the Illini an early 1-0 lead. The freshman took a pass from senior Courtney Bell inside the box, finishing to the right corner of the goal inside the six.

"Shayla (Mutz) is one of the hardest workers we have, and it was good to see that pay off today and see her get rewarded," Rayfield said. "She's a fighter."

Milwaukee (2-5-3) increased its offensive pressure after Illinois' goal, with three shots in the following minutes. The Panthers tied the match 1-1 in the 29th, as forward Sarah Hagen scored on a free kick just outside the box, sending her shot to the goal's lower left corner. The game stayed tied until half, with Illinois owning a 6-4 advantage on shots.

In the second half, Sahly had a shot on goal in the 55th, then made up for her near-miss by scoring the game-winner in the 58th. The forward received a pass from defender Julie Ewing with her back to the goal, then turned and curled a shot to the goal's left corner from just outside the 18. Sahly's goal was her first since 2007.

Illinois controlled possession from that point on, with Mutz putting the game away in the 85th for the 3-1 win. She took a pass from Jenna Carosio in the midfield, finishing to the lower right corner for her second goal of the game.

Carosio and Ewing joined Mutz with their first points of their Illinois careers, while Bell's assist was her team-leading third of the season. For the match Illinois out-shot the Panthers 12-8 and owned a 7-3 advantage on shots on goal. All three of Milwaukee's chances on frame were by Hagen.

Illinois keeper Alexandra Kapicka got the win with two saves, while Jamie Forbes made four saves for Milwaukee.

Illinois opens Big Ten play next weekend live on the Big Ten Network, hosting Minnesota at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27. The match marks the fourth annual SoccerFest, with free admission, free food, free games, giveaways and live music when the gates open at 11:30 a.m.