Sept. 30, 2007

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Freshman defender Danielle Kot netted her first career goal, but it wasn't enough as the Illinois soccer team fell to the Penn State Nittany Lions, 2-1, on Sunday in front of 1,013 fans at Jeffrey Field. Kot's goal came in the 52nd minute as she headed in a shot on an assist from sophomore midfielder Courtney Bell.

"We like the soccer that we're playing, we just have to turn it up from a mentality standpoint," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "Knowing we can play Friday and Sunday, while our opponents just have one game, and still have what we need to compete was good to find out."

The Nittany Lions controlled the first half, notching a goal five minutes into the game when PSU defender Sheree Gray made a pass from midfield to forward Katie Schoepfer at the top of the box, drawing Illini goalkeeper Lindsey Carstens from between the posts. Schoepfer drilled a shot into the open net for a 1-0 lead.

The Illini nearly tied the match in the 11th minute as Kot took a free kick and launched into the left corner of the box. Junior defender Emily Zurrer won the ball in the air, but her header deflected off the post. The Orange and Blue had another shot in the 30th minute on another Kot free kick, as sophomore midfielder Jackie Santacaterina fired one off her head, but a diving stop by PSU goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher kept the Nittany Lions in front by a goal.

"We're still creating chances, we just have to finish some of those chances," Rayfield said. "If we can finish more of those, the game will change because you play a different game when you're in the lead versus playing from behind."

Penn State tallied another goal in the 44th minute to take a 2-0 lead at the break. PSU midfielder Zoe Bouchelle slipped a pass between defenders to forward Danielle Toney at the top of the box. Toney fired it from the top of the circle for her second goal of the season.

"We've got a few things to solve defensively," Rayfield said. "Every time they countered, it was dangerous and we just didn't defend their counter attack well in the first half."

The Illini made some adjustments at halftime and those paid off in the 52nd minute, as Kot put Illinois on the board. Bell took a free kick from the right corner and launched it to Kot, who usually serves for the Illini on restarts. Kot headed in the shot on the far post to cut PSU's lead to 2-1.

"We talked at the half about being dangerous on those set pieces," Rayfield said. "Kot usually serves, so for her to get in on the scoring end was great."

Illinois stepped up defensively as well, shutting out the Nittany Lions in the second half. The Illini were able to stifle PSU's counter attack and keep the ball in the Nittany Lions' end of the field during most of the second half, but the Orange and Blue couldn't capitalize on the 6-1 corner advantage or 14-12 shot advantage over PSU.

"We've got to come out of this weekend confident that we just out-shot two of the top teams in the Big Ten," Rayfield said. "We've got some things to fix, but we played some really good soccer this weekend."

The Illini return home next weekend to continue Big Ten play. Illinois will host Minnesota on Friday at 7 p.m. and round out the weekend against Iowa at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium.