Sept. 10, 2006

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Emily Zurrer headed in a free kick from Ella Masar in the 70th minute and the Illinois defense didn't allow a shot on goal as the Illini handed No. 13 Auburn its first loss of the season in the championship game of the Illinois Tournament in front of 576 fans at Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium. For their efforts against Auburn and Friday against Syracuse, Masar was named the Offensive MVP of the tournament, while teammate Mary Therese McDonnell was named Defensive MVP. The victory capped off the festivities of Alumni Reunion Weekend, featuring the return of many former Illini players to celebrate the program's 10th anniversary.

"We knew all along that we were getting better through some of those games and we put ourselves in a situation where we had to improve," Illini coach Janet Rayfield said of her team's struggles the past two weeks. "Now the country sees that we tested ourselves early. We haven't given ourselves a break and that is going to be good; we are going to be ready for the Big Ten."

The first half was a streaky one as Auburn (5-1-0) controlled the pace for much of the period. Illinois (3-3-0), led by Masar up front, repeatedly made runs behind the Tigers' defense but wasn't able to capitalize. And as the half wore on, the Illini gradually did a better job of possessing the ball and controlling the game. At halftime, Masar (Urbana, Ill.) had four shots and Illinois out-shot Auburn 12-4.

"When Ella gets the ball and starts to go, there is just a confidence that she is going to get behind somebody and serve a ball across the box," Rayfield said. "You can see the commitment from her teammates to get in (the box) and the same is true on the flip side - Chichi (Nweke) knows that Ella is going be there. That belief in each other really helps us as a team."

The Illini continued to manage the flow of the game in the second half, eventually drawing a foul near the corner flag in the 70th minute. Masar served a perfect ball off the free kick, finding Zurrer (Vancouver, B.C.), who headed it far post from the edge of the six-yard box for a 1-0 lead at 69:54. Auburn continued to push as the game wore on, eventually substituting a forward for a defender, but it was to no avail as Illinois did not allow a shot on goal the entire match and out-shot the Tigers 13-2 in the second half.

For the match, the Illini out-shot Auburn 25-6 but lost the corner kick battle as the Tigers held a 4-2 advantage. Auburn keeper Allison Whitworth collected seven saves, but her offense was unable to put a shot on frame, largely as a result of stellar play by the Illinois midfield and back line, especially tournament defensive MVP McDonnell (Orland Park, Ill.). McDonnell was seemingly everywhere against the Tigers, repeatedly thwarting runs down the left side while slicing into the attacking third numerous times.

The Illini placed three other players on the All-Tournament team, with Nweke (Virginia Beach, Va.) and midfielders Jackie Santacaterina (Geneva, Ill.) and Kristy Weeks (North Vancouver, B.C.) getting the nod along with Masar and McDonnell. Auburn's Gabi Rivera, Ronda Brooks and Jenny Zarzour made the team, along with Syracuse's Samantha Hawn and Chelsea Barry, plus Portland State's Juli Edwards.

Illinois returns to action in a rare Thursday match at Saint Louis at 7 p.m. The Illini then return home to face Utah Sunday at 1 p.m.

All-Tournament Team
Ella Masar - Illinois (Offensive MVP)
Mary Therese McDonnell - Illinois (Defensive MVP)
Chichi Nweke - Illinois
Jackie Santacaterina - Illinois
Kristy Weeks - Illinois
Gabi Rivera - Auburn
Ronda Brooks - Auburn
Jenny Zarzour - Auburn
Samantha Hawn - Syracuse
Chelsea Barry - Syracuse
Juli Edwards - Portland State