Nov. 2, 2000

CHAMPAIGN, IL - Illinois (13-6) opened the 2000 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament with a solid 3-1 victory over Michigan State (12-6-2). The fourth-seeded Fighting Illini used two second-half goals from all-time leading scorer Emily Brown to advance to semifinal action on Friday.

After a scoreless first half that saw the Illini outshoot the Spartans by a 9-3 margin, a flurry of goals early in the second half ended with Illinois holding a 2-1 advantage.

"We were playing good soccer, I just thought we needed to pick up our level of intensity in the second half from the first half," said Illinois coach Tricia Taliaferro. "We needed to stay patient and not get frustrated because one of those shots was going to go in. Once we got the first goal, we were able to relax and focus on the way we've been playing the last couple of weeks."

Illinois scored first at 56:09 when Brown scored on an assist by Lisa Baldwin. The Spartans tied the score just 46 seconds later when Gina Dawson knocked in a corner kick at the 56:55 mark. Brown then assisted Tara Schuling on the eventual game-winner at the 61:11 mark. Brown scored her second goal at 71:57 on an assist from Colleen Joyce to finish scoring for the day.

"Emily really stepped it up," Taliaferro said. "Any time there is a big game, she really steps it up. We created some opportunities for her and she was able to finish. She's been a leader for us all year, and I think her play was a good demonstration of that."

Brown now has 14 goals on the season to go along with five assists. Her 14 goals and 33 points on the year both rank second on Illini single-season lists.

The fifth-seeded Spartans finish the season with a 12-6-2 record. Illinois moves on to play the winner of the Penn State-Minnesota game Friday at 5 p.m. at the Illini Soccer Field.