Oct. 16, 2010

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois women's soccer team earned its tenth victory overall, and third Big Ten Conference win of the season against the Iowa Hawkeyes, 2-1, in overtime at Illinois Soccer Stadium on Saturday. Senior defender Krystin Miller scored her second goal of the season, while sophomore forward Shayla Mutz earned the game-winner. Senior goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka made one save in net to earn the win.

"I give a lot credit to this team for continuing to fight. When you're dominating a game and all of a sudden you're down and the clock is ticking off, you can give up at that point or lose your momentum," Illinois head coach Janet Rayfield said. "We just fought and fought and fought and fought and ended up with the win in the end. I think that's what really matters."

Although the Illini dominated the statistics, Iowa tallied the first goal of the night in the 69th minute on a penalty kick. While contesting the ball, the Illinois defense was called for a foul on the edge of the box, setting up the Hawkeyes' attempt. Gabrielle Ainsworth lined up for the kick and placed the ball to her left to break the tie.

The score remained 1-0 until the 88th minute of regulation, when the Illini earned a penalty kick of their own, the second on the season for the Orange and Blue. Junior Marissa Mykines attempted a shot from the edge of the box, which was blocked in front by an Iowa defender's arm to set up the potential game-tying goal. Miller's kick sent the ball skimming off the underside of the cross bar and into the back of the net for the equalizer.

"It almost doesn't matter where she hits it because she hits the ball so hard that, even if you know where it's going, it's tough to get there that quickly," Rayfield said of Miller's penalty kick. "Bottom line is she hit it, she hit it hard and with confidence and it tied the game for us."

Only four minutes into overtime, the Illini earned a free-kick restart near midfield, which set up the game-winning goal. Senior Danielle Kot fired the ball to sophomore forward Niki Read, who served it immediately to Mutz in the center of the field. Mutz pushed the ball by the Iowa defense in the middle of the box and shot past Iowa keeper Emily Moran into the left corner to end the contest in the 94th minute.

"Niki had a great ball and it was right at my foot. I just had to touch it and put it right at the back of the net," said Mutz of the goal. "I'm just happy that we won. It doesn't matter who scores it to me, but it was awesome." For the contest, Illinois totaled 26 shots in comparison to the Hawkeyes' 10. The Orange and Blue also dominated in corner kick opportunities, attempting six while holding Iowa to one.

For their next match, the Fighting Illini (10-2-1) travel to face Ohio State on Thursday, October 21 with a 6 p.m. contest.