Oct. 13, 2000

Champaign, Ill. - Illinois soccer took a big step toward finishing in the Big Ten's upper half for the first time in school history. With just one game separating places 2-7 in the conference standings heading into Friday's action, the Illini shut out visiting Purdue, 3-0, in Champaign.

The Illini (9-5 overall) moved into a third-place tie with Michigan at 5-3 in the Big Ten, just 1/2 game behind Wisconsin (6-3) for second in the league. Illinois also ties a school record with its seventh shutout of the season. Wisconsin beat Michigan St. tonight, while Penn State edged Michigan, 2-1.

Illinois freshman Sarah Anderson started her second straight game and posted her second shutout in a row. Anderson was tested, especially in the second half, but managed seven saves.

With the stakes high for conference tournament seeding and NCAA aspirations, the game was extremely physical. Purdue (16) and Illinois (15) combined for 31 fouls and two Purdue players received yellow card cautions. The first yellow came on a foul on

Illinois' Hollie Schurr in the goal box. That set up a penalty kick try by Illinois' Colleen Joyce, who was successful in notching her six goal of the season.

Illinois' second goal was as pretty as it gets. Heidi Holtzman served up a ball to Lisa Baldwin, who went to the right side of the goal and kicked it in from a tough angle at 27:36. The Illini are deeper than they have been in the past. As a result, Head Coach Tricia Taliaferro can bring some fresh legs off the bench. That happened late in the first half when Laura Freeman came off the bench at the forward spot, fought off two defenders, split those defenders and then fired a ball from 15 yards out for the third goal with just 5:15 remaining in the first half, making it 3-0.

For Lisa Baldwin, the second-leading goal scorer a year ago, it was fitting for her to score her first goal of the year. Her unselfish play has resulted in a team leading five assists.

For the 13th time in 14 games, Illinois led in shots on goal (18-12), but the Illini defense was equally as impressive. Anderson showed some maturity in grabbing a couple of cross attempts in mid air amidst traffic. Sue Hodson cleared a ball off a Purdue corner kick late in the second half to help preserve the victory. Rebecca Patrick, Meghan Kolze and Holtzman were also up to the task.

Freshman Tiffani Walker started her sixth game of the year and had one of her best outings. Outrunning defenders, Walker fired a pair of shots that went high. Late in the second, the Illini nearly executed an impressive goal. Off an indirect kick, Hollie Schurr fed Walker who broke toward the box and headed the ball in, but Purdue's Elizabeth Boldt made the save.

Illinois has two big games left in the conference - Sunday at home vs. Indiana and next Friday at Iowa. A pair of wins would mean no worse than a second place tie in the Big Ten.