Nov. 6, 1999
Bloomington, Ind. -
Those who enjoy offense would have liked Saturday?s semifinal contest between Illinois and Michigan. The teams combined for seven goals and 26 shots (12 by Illinois). In the end Michigan, who built an early lead, staved off the Illini, 4-3 to advance to Sunday?s final.
Even if Illinois doesn't receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament, it will end its most successful season to date with school-record tying 12 wins, a school-best sixth-place finish in the Big Ten?s regular season and its first ever post-season victory (in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tourney on Friday). The NCAA bids will be released late Sunday night.
One staple of the Illinois season has been the resiliency and continued development of the skills that come with the ability to play at a high level.
?We showed what we?re made of in the second half,? said Illinois coach Tricia Taliaferro. ?This year we gained a belief that that we can with play with the upper echelon. We now have to focus on doing it on a consistent basis.?
The teams also set an NCAA record for shortest time between goals by opposing teams when Illinois? Lindsay Johnson scored off a pass from Heather Nadeau 15 seconds after Michigan?s Mari Hoff scored to put Michigan ahead 4-1 early in the second half.
Illinois was done by any means. The Illini moved to within 4-3 on an unassisted goal by defender Sue Hodson with 20 minutes left in the match. ?When Sue stepped it up, it was a signal to the rest of us,? said Illinois forward Emily Brown. ?Each one of us took it upon ourselves to step our games as well.?
Just 24 hours before Illinois dominated third-seeded Iowa, 2-0. In the biggest game in school history to date, Michigan scored two goals in the first nine minutes. Illinois kept the intensity up, however, and that resulted in good scoring chances off corner kicks.
The Illini got on the board on a 15-yard shot from Brown in which the First Team All-Big Ten choice received the pass from Nadeau, turned her body 90 degrees, and fired it past Michigan goalkeeper Carissa Stewart. The scoring chance happened due to some fancy footwork at the midfield from freshman Tara Schuling.
Michigan?s Kacy Beitel scored the second Michigan goal (at 8:26) and assisted on the first goal by Abby Crumpton (at 6:26). Illinois held the momentum until two Michigan forwards got behind Illinois goaltender Sarah Heggen and scored at 37:13 off a rebound shot from Carly Williamson. That made it 3-1 Michigan at the half.
Brown ended her season with a school-record 18 goals and 40 points. Michigan takes a 15-5-1 record into tomorrow?s title game.
