Sept. 26, 2010

Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The University of Illinois women's soccer team dropped its first Big Ten Conference game of the season at #18 Minnesota, 1-0, on Sunday. Sophomore Niki Read and freshman Vanessa DiBernardo each tallied three shots on the contest for the Illini.

"Today was a good test," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "We did not play the type of soccer we need to and the challenge will be to battle and play at the same time. We can play, be dynamic, move the ball and battle but today showed us we need to take a step forward to battle and play simultaneously."

The Gophers earned the only goal of the contest in the 71st minute of action. Katie Bethke headed a cross from MacKenzie Misel past Illinois keeper Alexandra Kapicka to put Minnesota ahead, 1-0. This goal marks the first allowed by the Illini since their Sept. 3 contest at Connecticut, ending a streak of four consecutive shutouts to go along with 430 successive shutout minutes.

"The pace of the game was up and down," Rayfield said. "Minnesota made it a race back and forth across the field for 90 minutes and we need to be ready for this style, physically and mentally."

Kapicka totaled four saves on the day while the Illini made two additional team saves. The Orange and Blue were outshot for the first time on the season, 16-10, while Minnesota earned five corner kick opportunities while holding Illinois to one.

The Illini returns to action on Friday, Oct. 1, playing host to Purdue for a 7 p.m. contest at Illinois Soccer Stadium. The Orange and Blue follow with SoccerFest 2010 against Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.