Box Score Aug. 31, 2008
Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
Senior defender Emily Zurrer headed in the golden goal in the 96th minute to give Illinois (3-0) a 1-0 victory over Dayton (2-1) in the championship game of the Illini Challenge Cup on Sunday afternoon at the Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium. It was Zurrer's first game back in the Orange and Blue since she returned from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
"We've got a lot of threats in the air and it's tough to defend all of those weapons, especially on a re-start," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "For Emily to get a goal in her first game back, that's exciting for her. It shows what she brings to the team."
Four Illini earned all-tournament honors, including goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka and sophomore defender Danielle Kot, who had the game-winning assist in the championship goal. Kapicka allowed just one goal in tournament play. Junior forward Chichi Nweke also was named all-tournament after tallying a goal and an assist in Friday's match, while senior midfielder Marti Desjarlais rounded out the honorees after notching an assist in the win over Iowa State.
The game was a defensive struggle, with each team getting only one shot on frame during the first half. Dayton defender Kathleen Beljan received a red card in the 56th minute, giving the Illini an advantage playing a man up. The Flyers, though, continued to battle throughout the second half and forced the game into overtime.
"When you're playing down a player, it turned Dayton into a defensive, scrappy team," Rayfield said. "They're looking just to counter and get a goal and that's sometimes hard to play against."
Illinois capitalized in the overtime period, as Kot played a ball into Zurrer on a free kick. With the keeper drawn to the center of the box to defend on the re-start, Zurrer was able to head the ball into the corner of the net to give the Illini the 1-0 victory.
The Orange and Blue hit the road this weekend for the First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic beginning Friday, Sept. 5. The Illini will take on Washington State at 4:30 p.m. to open the tournament before facing the host Lady Vols on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.
