Sept. 16, 2005

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - Illinois kept the ball on their offensive half of the field much of the game and got first goals of the season from Emily Zurrer, Ella Masar and Christen Karniski in a 3-0 win over Illinois State in front of 382 fans at Illinois Soccer Stadium.

Zurrer (Vancouver, B.C.), whose goal was also her first career tally as an Illini, fired in a pass from Jessica Bayne (Troy, Ill.) off a corner kick by Eva Strickland (Seattle, Wash) in the 20th minute to give Illinois an early 1-0 lead. Zurrer's shot went near side from the left side of the box from four yards out.

"I've been a target on set pieces all year to finish the goal and it's good to finally finish one," Zurrer said. "Hopefully there's more to come."

Only 44 seconds later, Masar (Urbana, Ill.) notched her first goal of 2005 after rebounding her own miss at the 20:14 mark. Defender Christen Karniski (Iowa City, Iowa) served the ball to Zurrer, who passed to Masar three yards out. Masar chipped a shot off the crossbar that bounced directly back to her and she headed it in for a 2-0 Illini lead.

"It definitely was a monkey off Ella's back to finally get a goal," Illini coach Janet Rayfield said. "And (Zurrer) was so composed in the box. We trained her up front all spring, and maybe that was a good thing because she just put the ball down and got it in the back of the net."

Illinois controlled the ball the rest of the half and held the Redbirds to only two first-half shots while racking up 14 of their own on the way to a 2-0 Illini halftime lead.

The first part of the second half was ragged for both teams, with neither really controlling the ball. But the Illini regained command about halfway through and put an exclamation on the game in the 83rd minute.

Christen Karniski took a pass and drove down the middle of the field undeterred before firing a shot from eight yards out. ISU goalkeeper Erica Goethel appeared to make the save but didn't smother the ball, and it trickled into the goal for Karniski's first goal of the season and a 3-0 Illini lead. The Redbirds were unable to mount any significant late attacks and Illinois notched its fourth win of the season.

Illinois outshot ISU 26-4 while not allowing a shot on goal, and outcornered them 6-1. Lindsey Carstens (West Chester, Ohio) and Rachel Frank (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) combined for Illinois' fifth shutout of the season.

The Illini return to action on Sunday, hosting Indiana State at 2 p.m. at Illini Soccer Stadium.