Oct. 17, 2009

Box Score

IOWA CITY, Iowa - A complete team effort led the Illinois soccer team to its first Big Ten win of the season, as the Illini defeated Iowa 3-1 on the road on Saturday evening. Junior Laura Knutson came off the bench to score the game-winner, while sophomore defender Julie Ewing had a goal and an assist to lead the way in the Orange and Blue's come-from-behind victory at the Iowa Soccer Complex. Junior Krystin Miller also scored on a penalty kick to ice the Illinois victory in the 86th minute.

"A Big Ten win no matter how we get it is a good result," Illini head coach Janet Rayfield said. "It was definitely a good offensive performance for us, scoring three goals and creating many chances. I thought a lot of different players played well up front ... The reason they didn't get a lot of shots is because we were attacking. Our attack was our best defense because we kept the pressure on their backs."

Illinois (6-5-3, 1-2-2 Big Ten) did not back down after Iowa (8-7-0, 0-5-0) got on the board first. In the 10th minute Hawkeyes' forward Keli McLaughlin scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season, getting behind the Illini defense and finishing a cross from teammate Morgan Showalter.

The Illini took offensive control after Iowa took the 1-0 lead, with Ewing tying the game at 1-1 in the 27th. After senior Jackie Santacaterina drove the ball from the right side of the field, Ewing finished inside the box to score the first goal of her career. The Orange and Blue turned up the pressure even more to take the lead, as Knutson subbed into the match for the first time in the 39th and scored the game-winner minutes later in the 42nd. For the goal, Ewing made a run from the defense and found Knutson inside the box, who was able to put it in the back of the net.

"We responded really well after they scored," Rayfield said. "We came back, kept the energy high and scored one of the best goals we've scored all year. To be down and then come back is a big psychological boost for us."

The Illini were able to carry the 2-1 lead into halftime, dominating the statistics with a 10-3 shots advantage and 5-1 corner kicks advantage.

Illinois had six more shots in the second half, despite changing its formation to two forwards up top instead of its typical three. Knutson was taken down from behind inside Iowa's box in the 86th, resulting in an Illinois penalty kick. Miller converted the free opportunity to make the final score 3-1, scoring her second penalty kick of the season.

The Illini's three goals were their most in a Big Ten game so far this season and their most since a 3-1 victory over Milwaukee on Sept. 20. Knutson's goal was her first of the season, as she played 28 minutes off the bench and had three shots, all of which were on goal. Illinois has now won six of its last seven match-ups with Iowa.

For the match, Illinois out-shot Iowa 16-9 and had eight shots on goal to the Hawkeyes' two, also out-cornering the Hawkeyes 10-4. Senior goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka made one save for the Illini, while Hawkeyes' keeper Emily Moran made five stops.

Illinois will try to carry its momentum into two games next weekend, one home and one away. The Illini will host No. 19 Ohio State on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. at the Illinois Soccer Stadium. Then, the team will travel to face first-place Penn State on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. CT. The match in University Park, Pa. will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.