Oct. 24, 1999

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After not scoring in its last three games, Illinois soccer broke out of the slump in a big way Sunday with a 4-1 win over Illinois State.

Emily Brown returned to the line-up and notched goals 14 and 15 on the season, which breaks the school's single-season goals record held by Lisa Baldwin, who netted 14 in 1998.

The Illini wasted little time in getting on the board, scoring just 3:44 into the match. Sophomore Lindsay Johnson, arguably the hottest player on the team right now, took a Laura Freeman service and punched it in the net from under 10 feet out.

"Lindsay Johnson has elevated her game to the next level last couple of weeks," Head Coach Tricia Taliaferro said. "She has really kept her focus, both during the game and at practice."

Illinois State, who entered the match 13-1-1, battled right back, however. Christina Gutierrez got past the Illini defense and booted the ball over the head of Illinois senior Amy Bessette for the game-tying goal just 1:35 later.

From there it was all Illinois. Johnson had everyone talking about a possible hat trick with a goal at the 14:39 mark off an assist from Hollie Schurr. Moments later Brown entered the contest. Brown netted the record-tying goal with just 41 seconds left in the first half off a feed from Kelly Buszkiewicz. Buszkiewicz, playing in her final home game on Senior Day, ironically added to her school career record assist number with her 18th.

Taliaferro says that Buszkiewicz has truly been a pioneer for the program. "Kelly Buszkiewicz has been there from the beginning," Taliaferro noted. "She has been the centerpiece with which we've built our program and been a great leader."

Taliaferro had a chance to get everyone into the match in the second half, and the Illini were able to hold their own. Freshman Heather Nadeau picked her first collegiate point on an assist to Brown for the fourth goal of the game at the 74:51 mark.

"It was nice to score early and get over this mini slump," said Taliaferro afterwards. "(With a few injuries), we've been able to give a lot of people some opportunities, and we've still been able to play at a high level."

Taliaferro said next weekend, which includes non-conference games at Colorado College and the University of Denver will give her club an opportunity to try some different things. "We need to be prepared for anything," said the coach. "We don't know what adjustments we may have to make during the Big Ten Tournament."