FAIRFAX, VA. - The University of Illinois women's soccer team lost another close game in the final minutes, this time to William & Mary. The Tribe, now 4-0, pulled ahead with just 2:26 left in regulation to drop the Illini to 2-3 on the season.
Illinois was on the board first as Tara Hurless set up Meghan Kolze for a score from 12 yards out just 6:38 into the game. It was Kolze's second goal of the season and Hurless' first assist. The assist upped Hurless' team high point total to 11 (five goals, one assist).
William & Mary would tie the score at 1-1 when Taline Tahmassian crossed the ball to Lydia Sturgis who directed it to Tara Flint for the touch in goal. It was Flint's third goal on the season.
The score would remain tied until the final minutes when the Tribe's Sturgis took a pass from Franny Swajkoski, dribbled and fired a shot that sailed just inside the left post from 12 yards out. The heartbreaking goal came in the 88th minute and the Illini were unable to counter.
Leisha Alcia was in goal for the orange and blue. She tallied three saves in the defeat. The Illini out shot the Tribe 10-7 on the night.
This was the third straight final-minute road loss for the Illini. In their opening two games of the season they lost to Missouri 2-1 in double overtime, and then were defeated by Kentucky 1-0 on a goal with only 4:16 remaining two days later.
Head coach Janet Rayfield knows that this trend cannot continue. "Three losses all in the last five minutes is not acceptable," said Rayfield. "Our focus must get better in tight games against good teams. Tonight I felt like we out played William & Mary in the first half, but we didn't go after it and put them away and that left the door open for them in the last five minutes."
Up Next:The Illini will close out the George Mason Invitational by taking on the hosts, George Mason, at 1 p.m. Sunday. Following that, the orange and blue will travel to the State of Michigan to open up Big Ten play. Illinois will take on Michigan State on Sept. 20 and #9 Michigan on Sept. 22. The Illini return home on Friday, Sept. 27 to face Dayton at 7 p.m.
