Sept. 19, 2010

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's soccer team earned its seventh victory of the season against the #23/#16 Louisville Cardinals, 3-0, at Illinois Soccer Stadium on Sunday. Freshman forward Megan Pawloski (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) and sophomore forward Shayla Mutz (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) each notched their second goals of the season, while sophomore forward Marissa Holden (Murphy, Texas/Plano East) added the first of her career. Senior goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka (Arlington Heights, Ill./Illinois Math and Science Academy) earned her third shutout in net by stopping two shots. The win over a ranked opponent marks the first of the 2010 campaign and 19th of head coach Janet Rayfield's tenure at Illinois.

"I thought we played well today," said Rayfield of the Illini's performance. "Our defense and the rest of our team continues to mature."

Pawloski opened the scoring in the 37th minute. Junior midfielder Jackie Guerra (Plano, Texas/Plano) crossed the ball into the box where Pawloski controlled it among a multitude of defenders and put the shot in the upper-right corner of the net for her first game-winning goal.

With Illinois ahead, 1-0, in the second half, Mutz added the second goal of the game in the 62nd minute. Junior defender Julie Ewing (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) passed the ball to Mutz, who placed the shot in the lower left corner of the net to double the Illini lead. Holden added her first goal of the season in the 87th minute to reach the final, 3-0. Junior midfielder Marissa Mykines (Spokane, Wash./Mead) assisted on the shot, passing the ball between two Cardinal's defenders to Holden, who placed her shot in the lower-left corner.

For the contest, Illinois notched 26 shots, while Louisville earned 10. The Illini held the Cardinals without a corner kick while the Orange and Blue earned three corner opportunities. Louisville goalkeeper Taylor Vancil saved five shots in net.

"I like where we are right now, but what I like even more is where we can go," said Rayfield. "This team has a lot of potential, and so if we keep moving forward there at the pace we have now, it will be great for us for the rest of the season."

Illinois (7-1-0) travels to open Big Ten Conference play on Sunday, Sept. 26 against Minnesota at 1 p.m. in Minneapolis, Minn.