Sept. 2, 2007

Box Score

The No. 20 Illinois soccer team used goals from five different Illini en route to a 5-0 shutout of the Xavier Musketeers in front of 494 fans on Sunday at the Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium. Junior midfielder Marti Desjarlais and freshman Laura Knutson led the way for the Illini with one goal and one assist each, while senior forward Ella Masar netted her second goal of the season as the Illini improved to 1-1 on the season.

"We said all along that we could be a dynamic team," Rayfield said. "We defended and attacked collectively today, and that will be the key for us throughout the season. When we're dynamic, teams have a hard time staying with all the motion that we can put on the field. I think you saw an example of that today."

The Illini took control of the game early and never let up, out-shooting the Musketeers, 24-3, and out-cornering them 8-3. The Orange and Blue scored their first goal just over five minutes into the match when Masar dribbled the ball down the left side of the field and took it inside the 18-yard box before firing a shot into the right corner of the net. The goal marked the 17th of Masar's career, moving her into eighth in the school's record book.

Illinois continued its potent offensive attack through the first half, adding two more goals to take a 3-0 lead at the break. Desjarlais netted a penalty kick in the 10th minute, the first for the Orange and Blue since last season's match at Michigan on Oct. 15. Three minutes later, after a Musketeer foul just outside the 18, junior defender Emily Zurrer headed in the free kick from freshman midfielder Danielle Kot.

The Orange and Blue dominated the second half as well, scoring two more goals midway through the half. After Desjarlais threw the ball in from the left side, freshman forward Knutson centered a pass inside the six-yard box to junior forward Jessica Levitt, who headed the ball in for her first career goal.

"[Levitt] was the one in the first half that didn't take her foot off the gas and showed us what it means to play the way an Illinois soccer player should play," Rayfield said. "She was all over the place and she was making great decisions. Hats off to her for showing this team not just how to play soccer, but also what it means to play it in the way Illinois wants to play it."

The Illini capped off their scoring barrage three minutes later when Knutson rocketed one into the back of the net from inside the 18 on a pass from senior defender Mary Therese McDonnell. It was Knutson's first collegiate goal.

Illinois looks to build on the win as the Illini head west for the UCLA Women's Cup next weekend. The Illini will face the host No. 3/2 (NSCAA/Soccer Buzz) Bruins on Friday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. CT and round out the weekend against Cal-State Northridge on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. CT.