Nov. 2, 2006

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Eva Strickland scored the game-winning goal and added an assist as 17th-ranked and second-seeded Illinois won its eighth-straight first round match in the Big Ten Tournament, 3-0 over seventh-seeded Wisconsin. It was Strickland's second three-point match of the season and third of her career, and the win was the Illini's first victory in University Park in program history. The Orange and Blue move into a semifinal match with third-seeded Purdue, which beat Ohio State 2-1 in overtime in the tournament's first match.

"This was this team coming in, getting the job done and taking care of business," Illinois coach Janet Rayfield said. "We're really focused on just how good we can be."

Midway through the first half, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Ella Masar (Urbana, Ill.) and Wisconsin's Natalie Horner collided 25 yards from the goal and a foul was called on Horner. Strickland (Seattle, Wash.) took the free kick and bent the ball into the upper right corner to give the Illini a 1-0 lead at 20:10. Her goal was the eventual game-winner, her third of the year and second against the Badgers.

Less than three minutes later, Masar found Strickland along the right flank, and Strickland dribbled to the corner of the 18-yard box. She then sent a centering pass into the six-yard box where Masar headed it into the goal from five yards out at 17:37 for a 2-0 Illinois advantage. It was the fourth time this season the Illini have scored at least two goals in the first half of a match.

"Eva was big-time today," Rayfield said. "She worked hard the whole game, and she played a lot today because she was working hard and showing some senior leadership in terms of the work rate we needed today."

Shortly after halftime, Jessica Levitt (Naperville, Ill.) - who entered the game after halftime for her first action in nearly a month - beat two defenders as she drove into the right side of the box before sending a centering pass to Chichi Nweke (Virginia Beach, Va.) at the top of the 18-yard box. Nweke turned and buried a shot in the top left corner of the net for her seventh goal of the season, pushing Illinois' lead to 3-0 at 56:17.

The Illini allowed just one shot on goal in the second half, out-shooting the Badgers 11-8 for the match. The seven total goals the Illini scored against the Badgers this season are the most an Illinois team has ever scored against one opponent in a season, as the Orange and Blue defeated Wisconsin 4-2 on Sept. 22.

Up Next: Second-seeded Illinois will face third-seeded Purdue Friday at 3:30 p.m. (CT) in a rematch of a game played two weeks ago. The Illini defeated the then-No. 17 Boilers 2-0 behind goals from Jackie Santacaterina and Ella Masar, and a defense that allowed just three shots on goal.