Aug. 25, 2001

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The 2001 Fighting Illini women's soccer team welcomed J.B. Marine to the Illini Soccer Stadium for a preseason scrimmage. Illinois defeated the club team from St. Louis by a 4-1 margin. The Illini came out strong both offensively and defensively. Illinois fired 34 shots while holding J.B. Marine to just four.

"Our goal was to come out and execute what we've been working on in practice," head coach Tricia Taliaferro said. "We tried a few different formations and I was pleased with how they worked. I think we'll focus on one or two things this week in practice before we open the season next week. Overall team play is our focus and I like where we're at."

The Illini jumped out to an early lead when newcomer Tara Hurless hit Colleen Joyce in the middle of the penalty box. The Illini's top returning scorer from the 2000 season put Illinois on the board not quite ten minutes into the contest.

J.B. Marine answered with an unassisted goal by Lori Chalupny to tie the game.

It was all Illinois from there as junior Laura Freeman knocked in a pair of goals. With 16:20 remaining in the first half, junior Meghan Kolze set up Freeman with a give and go. Freeman found the net again just five minutes into the second half when she knocked in a header off a Sarah Rowland corner.

Junior Mary Nitsche capped off the scoring with a goal off a deflection at the 60:31 mark. Hurless recorded her second assist of the night on the play.

The Illini open the regular season at Iowa State on Friday, Aug. 31. The roadtrip continues as Illinois faces Kansas the following Sunday. The Illini return home to host the Orange and Blue Classic on Sept. 7-9. Louisville and UCLA kick off the event with a 5 p.m. contest on Sept. 7. The Illini meet Syracuse in the nightcap. UCLA and Syracuse will meet in the Classic finale Sept. 9 at noon.