Oct. 6, 2010
Complete Week 8 Notes 
GAME 12: #17 ILLINOIS (9-2-0) vs. WISCONSIN (6-3-3)
Sunday, Oct. 10 // 12 p.m. // McClimon Soccer Complex // Madison, Wis.
ON THE AIR
Livestats: GameTracker available on FightingIllini.com
THE SERIES
The Illini lead the all-time series with the Badgers, 9-6-0. In 2009, Wisconsin downed Illinois in Champaign, Ill., 1-0, on the strength of then-sophomore Laurie Nosbusch's 60th minute goal. Prior to the match, the Illini had earned seven consecutive victories, dating back to 2003.
FOR OPENERS
Illinois is:
• 81-32-4 in non-conference matches.
• 65-28-8 in five seasons when allowing less than one goal per game.
• 131-67-13 in 10 season when accumulating at least six shutouts.
LAST TIME OUT
The Illini swept the weekend series with Purdue and Indiana, downing the Boilermakers, 4-1, on Friday before dropping the Hoosiers, 2-1, on Sunday. With the victories, Illinois improved to 9-2-0 overall and 2-1-0 in Big Ten matches.
Against Purdue, freshman Vanessa DiBernardo broke the program record for most goals in a game (4) and tied the record for most goals in a half (3). DiBernardo's three second-half tallies came in the final 10 minutes of the contest. In net, senior goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka stopped two shots to hold Purdue to one goal on the evening.
On Sunday, freshman Megan Pawloski struck for two goals over a span of less than two minutes to earn the difference in the contest. Pawloski's second goal, a header off a cross from classmate Kassidy Brown, earned Pawloski her first two-goal collegiate performance as well as her second game-winning goal of 2010.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
The Wisconsin Badgers enter Sunday's contest with a record of 6-3-3 overall and 3-0-1 in the Big Ten. Recently, Wisconsin continued their nine game unbeaten streak with wins over #15 Minnesota, 1-0, and Iowa, 2-0.
Against Minnesota, Alev Kelter headed a cross from the corner past Gophers' keeper Cat Parkhill to earn the lone goal of the contest. On the season, Kelter is second on Wisconsin in points with five on two goals and one assist.
Kelter teamed with Laurie Nosbusch, leader among Badgers with eight points on four goals, to down Iowa during Wisconsin's eighth consecutive shutout. Nosbusch earned the game-winner on a header off a free kick from Catie Sessions.
Michelle Dalton started both contests for Wisconsin, totaling four saves in each. On the season, Dalton has started nine games, holding opponents to three goals in 941 minutes in net.
ILLINOIS TV AND RADIO BROADCASTS
The Illini are currently slated to appear on the Big Ten Network at Michigan on Oct. 31 while their Oct. 24 contest against Penn State will be streamed live on Student U. WDWS Radio will be performing radio broadcasts of the Orange and Blue throughout the season as well. Below is a list of the upcoming television and radio broadcasts:
Illinois on the Big Ten Network
Sunday, Oct. 31 at Michigan // 2 p.m.
Illinois on Student U
Sunday, Oct. 24 vs. Penn State // 1 p.m.
Illinois on WDWS AM 1400
Saturday, Oct. 16 vs. Iowa // 7:30 p.m. (Joined in progress after volleyball)
Sunday, Oct. 24 vs. Penn St. // 1 p.m. (Live)
NODS OF APPROVAL
After beginning the season unrecognized by college soccer media outlets, the Illini have earned the respect of each through their successful start. Among rankings committees, the Illini have earned 17th overall from Soccer America as well as the NSCAA/NCAA official poll.
The Orange and Blue have also received a multitude of individual awards. Danielle Kot earned the first of 2010, taking home Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors after a stellar performance against Loyola-Chicago to open the season.
Vanessa DiBernardo followed with Freshman of the Week on Aug. 30 for her one-goal matches against Wright State and Ball State and Freshman and Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 13 for her two-goal game at Cincinnati. DiBernardo followed with another Offensive and Freshman Player of the Week combination for her four-goal performance against Purdue on Oct. 1.
Finally, after the Illini defense extended its consecutive shutout streak to four, senior Krystin Miller became the second Illini to earn Defensive Player of the Week from the Big Ten to go with recognition on College Soccer 360's Primetime Performers weekly release and Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week on Sept. 20.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Fourteen of the 19 Illini to see time this season have recorded at least one point, with freshmen Vanessa DiBernardo, Megan Pawloski, and Kassidy Brown, sophomores Marissa Holden and Nicole Denenberg and junior Jackie Guerra earning their first collegiate point(s). Averaging more than 5.8 per game through 11 contests, the Illini are on pace to total 104 points through 18 games, their most since notching 112 in 21 contests during the 2007 season.
LIMITING THE DAMAGE
The Illini defense has accumulated a record-tying six shutouts through 11 contests this season, the most since earning six through the opening 11 matches during the 2003 season.
On the year, the Illini are only allowing 0.54 goals per game, the fourth-lowest among Big Ten programs and 17th-lowest among NCAA Division-I schools. As a team, the Illini also rank 16th in the NCAA in save percentage (0.875) and 23rd in shutout percentage (0.545).
FEARSOME FRESHMAN
Three freshmen, Kassidy Brown, Vanessa DiBernardo and Megan Pawloski, have factored heavily into the success of the Illini through 11 contests this season with Brown producing on defense, DiBernardo leading the team offensively and Pawloski serving as a threat off the bench.
Brown slotted into an outside defender role coming out of preseason camp. The Lake Zurich, Ill., native has accumulated over 700 minutes of action while assisting the Illinois defense in limiting opponents to six goals through 11 games.
DiBernardo leads the Illini in goals (9), points (20), shots (41) and shots on goal (19) and leads the Big Ten in goals, goals per game (0.82), points and points per game (1.82). The Naperville, Ill., native broke the program record for most goals in a single match with her four-goal performance against Purdue. DiBernardo also notched a multi-goal match against Cincinnati, netting two tallies on the day.
Pawloski has served as a substitute for the Illini, notching four goals and one assist while coming off the bench. Pawloski has produced the highest shot percentage (.308) and second-highest shots-on-goal percentage (.615) among Illini athletes, placing eight of her 13 attempts on frame.
STARTING STRONG
Through 11 games, the Illini have earned an overall record of 9-2-0 to go with a conference mark of 2-1-0. Illinois last started a season with at least nine wins in 11 contests in 2004 when the Illini earned an identical overall record. In 2004, the Orange and Blue went on to reach the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals by knocking off Rice, #7 Texas A&M and Nebraska before falling to #4 Santa Clara, 2-0.
