Oct. 4, 2009

Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Illinois soccer team played its third double overtime match of the season, tying Indiana 1-1 on Sunday at Armstrong Stadium. Sophomore Marissa Mykines scored the Illini's lone goal of the match as the team moves to an overall record of 5-4-3 and a Big Ten record of 0-1-2.

"This was a typical Big Ten battle - a tug-of-war where both teams looked dangerous at times," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "This was the best weekend for us in terms of our mentality and fight and I think we found some guts. Now we need to find precision in the final third by being cleaner in our last pass and cleaner getting the ball off. We got ourselves in and had some chances, but if you're going to win Big Ten games on the road you have to finish chances."

Illinois thought it won the game at the end of the first overtime, but the goal was called back. After a crossed ball by senior Chichi Nweke to the far post, senior Jackie Santacaterina drove the ball across Indiana's goal. Freshman Shayla Mutz got a touch on the cross and the ball went in the goal, but Mutz was called offside.

"After getting a goal called back and thinking we won the game, we had to refocus and play again," Rayfield said. "That could have swung the momentum in Indiana's favor but thankfully we didn't let that happen."

Each team scored its lone goal in the opening minutes of the match, with Indiana getting on the board first. The Hoosiers' Chloe McKay sent a through ball to sophomore Devon Beach, who finished to give Indiana a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute. Mykines scored the equalizer minutes later, as she sent a free kick to the upper left corner of the goal to tie the game at 1-1. Mykines ranks second on the team with four goals in 2009, all of which are unassisted.

Illinois owned a commanding 8-4 shots advantage over Indiana in the first half, with chances on goal by forwards Jordan Hilbrands and Shayla Mutz and two shots by Christina Sahly. Indiana had more chances in the second half, out-shooting the Illini 10-4. Illinois' defense was kept especially busy in the final 18 minutes of regulation, as the Hoosiers peppered Illini keeper Alexandra Kapicka with eight shots.

After Mutz's goal was called back in the 99th, Illinois responded in the second overtime with several offensive chances and two shots on goal while neutralizing Indiana's offense.

For the match, each team had an identical 16 shots as Mykines led the Illini with four chances, three of which were on goal. Kapicka made four saves in goal for the Orange and Blue, while Indiana keeper Lindsay Campbell made five saves. The Illini played two forwards instead of their usual three for most of the game to counter the Hoosiers' five midfielders and adjust to Indiana's field, which is larger than most of the fields in the Big Ten.

Illinois will try for its first Big Ten win of the season in hosting Wisconsin at the Illinois Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m.