Aug. 24, 2007
Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 20 Illinois soccer team opened the season with a dominating performance, defeating the Butler Bulldogs, 1-0, in front of a crowd of over 200 fans at the Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium tonight. Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Chichi Nweke scored the lone goal for the Illini on a cross from the 2006 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Ella Masar.
After nearly an hour rain delay, the two teams took to the field. The Illini came out firing, taking 11 shots in the first half. The Illinois offense continued to dominate in the second half, finishing with 23 shots in the match compared to the Bulldogs' five. The Orange and Blue controlled the game on the defensive side as well, allowing the Bulldogs just two shots on goal and edging Butler 8-2 in corners.
"I liked our attacking mentality," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "We wanted to see all of our players get involved on the attack. I think you saw that attitude tonight."
The Illini's offensive attack paid off in the 67th minute as Masar charged down the far side of the field before centering a pass to Nweke, who netted the game-winning goal from three yards out past the Butler goalkeeper.
"It's about effort and reading your teammates," Rayfield said. "Chichi knew if Ella got to the end line, she was going to try to bring the ball back across the goal and she committed herself to that run."
Although Rayfield was pleased with the Illini's attack against Butler, she believes the squad can still improve and by turning more of its shots into goals.
"Anytime that you're in the preseason environment there are tons of things the game shows you that you need to work on," Rayfield said. "We have to clean up some of those mistakes so that we can turn the attacking mentality into offensive production."
The Illini return to the field on Sunday to wrap up the preseason, hosting Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 2 p.m at the Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium. Illinois kicks off the regular season Friday, Aug. 31, against Missouri at 7 p.m. and rounds out the first official weekend on Sunday, Sept. 2 hosting Xavier at 1 p.m.
