Oct. 31, 2003

Box Score

Illinois-Butler Box Score in PDF Format
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Champaign, Ill. - It certainly wasn't pretty, but the 12th-ranked Illinois women's soccer team finished up its best regular season in program history with a 1-0 win over Butler on senior night in front of 345 fans at Illinois Soccer Stadium Friday evening. The Illini got only one goal, from freshman Brittany Ward, but that is all they would need, as the defense was again solid in posting its school record tying 10th shutout of the season. The Illini finish the regular season with a record of 13-3-2 and will head into next week's Big Ten Tournament as the second-seed after a 7-1-2 conference campaign. Butler, meanwhile, drops to 8-8-2 with the loss.

While not pleased with the team's performance, Illinois head coach Janet Rayfield is confident that her team is poised for a long post-season run. "I think the game was one where we didn't keep our mental focus for all 90 minutes," Rayfield said. "I think this will be a different team going into the postseason. I wouldn't say that we looked past Butler tonight, but we may have been looking towards the next couple of weeks knowing there is a lot ahead of us. This is a team that is ready, and that wants this postseason to go as long as possible."

With the emotion of senior night flowing, the Illini came out gunning in the first half. Illinois fired shot after shot in the opening 45 minutes, one off the cross bar, another off the post and five more that were saved by the Butler goalkeeper. Finally, in the 40th minute, freshman Brittany Ward was able to convert on one of the 19 UI first half shots. Junior Andrea Ridgeway served a ball up to Ward inside the 18, who then split two defenders and slid the ball past Sanders from 8 yards out to put the Illini up 1-0. For Ward, who hails from Champaign, it was her second career goal. Ridgeway was credited with her 5th assist on the season on the play.

Despite sloppy play in the second half, the Illinois defense was able to hold the Bulldogs scoreless the rest of the way to earn its ninth shutout in 11 home games and its 10th of the season. The Orange and Blue posted a 19-1 shot advantage in the first half and out-shot the Bulldogs 28-4 for the contest. In addition, Illinois held a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks for the game.

UI goalkeeper Leisha Alcia had to make just one routine save in 90 minutes to earn her 9th shutout of the year, while senior Meghan Kolze made what was perhaps the biggest save of the game. In the 66th minute, Alcia came out the corral the ball but lost control, giving BU forward Krista Rott possession with the net open, but Kolze was able to race back and block Rott's shot attempt to keep the Bulldogs off the board. Butler net-minder Katie Sanders made nine saves to keep the Bulldogs in the game, but allowed the one goal.

For UI seniors Meghan Kolze, Jennifer Smith, Kelly Walker and Tiffani Walker, it was their final regular season home game at Illinois. Prior to the game, the four seniors were honored, along with their parents, in an emotional ceremony thanking them for their hard work and dedication over the last four - or five - years.

"Tonight was just an indication of what all the seniors have done for this team," said Rayfield of her graduating class. "Megan, Jen and Tiff all contributed in a way they normally do, and I thought Kelly Walker played the best game of her career tonight and that was fantastic. As a senior who doesn't play that many minutes, to play the kind minutes she played tonight, it just shows how much work she put in to keep herself in a state of fitness and mentality to play in a game. These seniors mean more to this team than just what they have done on the field. Off the field, they have set the standard for this team."

Up Next: The Fighting Illini (13-3-2, 7-1-2) will head to Madison, Wisconsin as the second-seed the Big Ten Tournament. They will face seventh-seeded Michigan State (10-7-0, 4-6-0) on Thursday, Nov. 6 in the first round at 10:30 a.m. The winner of that game will move on to face the Purdue/Indiana winner in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7. The Big Ten Tournament Championship game will take place on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. and will be televised live on College Sports Television (CSTV).