April 24, 2010
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
The Illinois soccer team concluded their spring season on Saturday with a double header against Marquette and Milwaukee, coming out victorious in both games, capping a successful spring season. The Illini defeated Marquette 1-0 in the first game of the day, followed by a 3-1 victory over Milwaukee in the second game of the day.
"After today I feel a little bit better about the way we ended the spring," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "In the morning we seemed uptight and didn't knock the ball around. I think this afternoon we came out and relaxed a bit and knocked the ball around. We made some progress. We got to play everybody today and see what their spring has done in terms of helping them individually. When you think about it like that, it's a good spring game and a good way to end the spring."
In the first game of the day, Illinois scored an early first half goal and hung on to gain the win against Marquette 1-0. Niki Read scored 10 minutes into the game, her first goal of the spring season. Marquette came out as the aggressor in the second half, but the defense, especially goalkeeper Steph Panozzo, came up big to hold Marquette scoreless in the game.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Illinois soccer team came out a bit more relaxed, which translated into a 3-1 defeat of Milwaukee. Marissa Holden got the scoring started at the end of the first half, scoring off of a Shayla Mutz cross.
The Illini would give up their only goal of the day early in the second half when Milwaukee's Nicole Sperl put the ball in the net after a scrum in the six-yard box. Illinois would respond very soon after when Shayla Mutz got in the scoring column herself, picking a pass off from a Milwaukee defender and slotting the ball past the Milwaukee goalkeeper, into the bottom right-hand corner. Two minutes later Marissa Mykines would close out the game with goal off of a Niki Read pass.
"I thought what was really good was that we gave up the goal to tie it and then came back," said Rayfield. "We really put the pressure on and scored two really nice goals and had two or three other good chances. What I'm really excited about is our response to giving up that goal and just being composed and really went after putting the ball in the back of the net."
Rayfield felt that Illinois had benefitted from the spring season and will reap the rewards for their hard work during the 2010 fall season.
"I really think we made some huge strides this spring," Rayfield said. "I thought the team was really focuses and wanted to make sure they did everything they could to set a good foundation to have a good fall. I'm pleased with this spring and if they can take this and add the fitness piece to it in the summer, I think it bodes well for a great fall."
