Oct. 19, 2011
Printable Week 10 Soccer Notes 
Week 10 Soccer Notes
Game 17: #25 Illinois (11-4-1, 5-2-1) vs. Northwestern (2-12-1, 1-6-1)
Thursday, Oct. 20 // 7 p.m. CT // Lakeside Field // Evanston, Ill.
Game Coverage
Live Statistics: Available on fightingillini.com
Web Streaming: BTN.com/Student U (purchasable)
The Series
Illinois leads the all-time series, 9-3-3. (Last meeting: #16 Illinois 1, Northwestern 0; Nov. 6, 2010)
Game 18: #25 Illinois vs. Nebraska (6-8-1, 3-5-0)
Sunday, Oct. 23 // 3 p.m. CT // Nebraska Soccer Field // Lincoln, Neb.
Game Coverage
Live Statistics: Available on fightingillini.com
Web Streaming: BTN.com/Student U (purchasable)
The Series
Illinois leads the all-time series, 2-0-0. (Last meeting: #13 Illinois 1, #17 Nebraska 0; Sept. 2, 2005)
Just For Kicks
Illinois...
... scored five or more goals in three straight games for the first time in program history.
... scored five or more goals in four separate games for the first time since 2000.
... has won its last 70 games when scoring three or more goals, dating back to 1999.
... is 7-1-1 when scoring at least two goals in a contest as well as in day games.
... finished 6-2-0 in non-conference play, the fifth consecutive and 13th overall season Illinois started the Big Ten season with a winning mark.
... produced four consecutive 1-0 shutouts for the first time in program history (Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin).
Fighting Illini Media Coverage
The University of Illinois soccer squad will receive considerable coverage from local and regional media outlets throughout the 2011 regular season, with live broadcasts of contests featured on the Big Ten Network and the Illini Sports Network - WDWS 1400AM, in addition to print weekly coverage in the Daily Illini and the Champaign News-Gazette. In total, two Illini contests will be featured on the conference's television network, while WDWS will carry five home matches.
Illinois' home-opener against Gonzaga will be broadcast by WDWS and the Illini Sports Network will also cover the Orange and Blue's match-ups with USC (9/2), Purdue (10/2), Minnesota (10/14) and Wisconsin (10/16).
The Big Ten Network will show a delayed broadcast of Illinois' contest at Michigan State on Oct. 8, with the game airing as a delayed broadcast on the network on Oct. 9. The following weekend, the BTN will broadcast live from Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium during SoccerFest 2011 as Illinois hosts the Wisconsin Badgers at 3 p.m. on Oct. 16. The Big Ten Student U will broadcast two additional contests, in Illinois' games at Northwestern on Oct. 20 and at Nebraska on Oct. 23, available on BTN.com live.
Illinois on the Big Ten Network
at Michigan State // Oct. 8 at Noon*
vs. Wisconsin // Sunday, Oct. 16 at 3 p.m.
Illinois on BTN Student U
at Penn State // Sept. 25 at Noon
at Northwestern // Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
at Nebraska // Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m.
Illinois on WDWS AM 1400
vs. Gonzaga // Friday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.
vs. USC // Friday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.
vs. Purdue // Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.
vs. Minnesota // Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.
vs. Wisconsin // Sunday, Oct. 16 at 3 p.m.
*next-day delay
Last Time Out
The University of Illinois soccer team improved to 11-4-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the Big Ten, jumping to second in the conference standings with a pair of 1-0 wins over Minnesota and Wisconsin. Sophomore midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo provided her seventh game-winner against the Gophers on Friday evening, while classmate Megan Pawloski totaled her sixth goal of the year, a single-season career high, against Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon during SoccerFest 2011.
DiBernardo broke the scoreless tie in the 19th minute against Minnesota (6-8-2 overall, 3-3-2 Big Ten), tallying her 13th goal of the season to reach 30 points on the year. Junior midfielder Niki Read controlled play 30 yards from the net in the center of the field and lofted a pass over the Minnesota defense and into the box. DiBernardo ran onto the ball and placed a shot low and into the left side netting, past the dive of Gophers goalkeeper Cat Parkhill.
Against Wisconsin, Illinois struck for the only goal in the 25th minute, with Pawloski recording the tally. DiBernardo started the play in the middle of the field, dribbled toward the Wisconsin net before passing to junior forward Shayla Mutz near the endline inside the 18-yard box. Mutz added one touch to send a low cross through the box as Pawloski sprinted onto the play and used a sliding kick to re-direct the ball into the top of the netting from inside the six-yard box.
The Illini defense downed its fourth consecutive opponent by a margin of 1-0, as the Orange and Blue have kept Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota and Wisconsin scoreless in succession, registering 415 consecutive shutout minutes dating back to the beginning of second half of Illinois' contest with Indiana on Sept. 30. Panozzo recorded five saves against the Badgers for her sixth shutout of the season, while the Illinois defense, including starters Jenna Carosio, Kassidy Brown and Stephanie Pouse, teamed to hold Wisconsin (8-5-3, 3-2-3) to only eight shots on the day.
Weekly Preview
Illinois continues its schedule with the final regular season road trip of the season, heading to Northwestern (2-12-1 overall, 1-6-1 Big Ten) to face the Wildcats on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. CT, before heading to Nebraska (6-8-1, 3-5-0) for a contest against the Cornhuskers at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 23.
Kate Allen's nine points on four goals and an assist leads the Wildcats, while Jill Dunn follows with two goals and an assist to register five points. The Wildcats' limited offense has been spread over 11 different points recorders, with Emily Langston following Dunn with four points on two goals and Sami Schrakamp and Caroline Dagley each earning three points. No other Wildcats has more than two points on the season.
Anna Cassell has seen the majority of time in net, accumulating 1,269 minutes in 14 contests, including 13 starts. Cassell has allowed an average of 2.06 goals per game, owning a .670 saves percentage with 59 stops and 29 goals allowed. Cassell has also earned the majority of the decisions, finishing 2-11-1 with one shutout. Sam Hatfield has played the remaining 127 minutes on the year, stopping five shots while allowing one goal for a goals-against average of 0.71 and a save percentage of .833. As a team, Northwestern has allowed 91 points on the year, giving up 30 goals and 31 assists, against only 12 tallies and 10 assists on the year for the Wildcats. Foes have been particularly successful since Big Ten play began, as conference opposition has recorded more points than Northwestern, 45-9, with a 14-4 goals scored advantage. Overall, opponents have also outshot Northwestern, 229-163, and earned more corner kick attempts, 85-66. Fouls have been nearly identical, with Northwestern flagged 126 times against 127 fouls called on its foes. Saves are also nearly tied, 68-65, with the Wildcats owning more on the year.
Illinois last faced Northwestern on Nov. 6, 2010, in the final game of the regular season for both squads, with the Illini victorious, 1-0, on Senior Night. To earn the goal, her second game-winner of the season, then-sophomore forward Niki Read controlled a pass from then-freshman midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo near the sideline. Read dribbled on net uncontested and drilled a shot into the lower-right corner, under the diving attempt from Northwestern keeper Carolyn Edwards. Illinois leads the all-time series, 9-3-3, while Northwestern holds the head-to-head record when playing in Evanston, Ill., 4-2-2.
Following the contest against Northwestern, the Orange and Blue trek to Lincoln, Neb., for the final away game of the regular season. Nebraska is competing as a member of the Big Ten Conference for the first time this season, though the Cornhuskers are 16-6-1 overall against Big Ten opposition as a member of the Big 12 Conference, with two losses coming to the Illini.
Currently, Nebraska is led by 41-point scorer Morgan Marlborough, who owns 18 goals and five assists on the year. Marlborough has five game-winning tallies and has earned the 18 marks in only 82 shots. Jordan Jackson follows with 20 points on seven goals and six assists while Stacy Bartels rounds out the double-digit points recorders with 13 on five goals and three assists.
Emma Stevens is the starting goalkeeper for the Cornhuskers in 2011, her first season as the full-time goalie at Nebraska. Stevens owns all 15 decisions on the year, earning a 1.69 goals-against average with 69 saves and 26 goals allowed in 1,381 minutes. Stevens has also posted two shutout performances and owns a .726 save percentage. Amy Swearer has seen time in one contest on the season, allowing one goal without making a save in 10 minutes of action.
Nebraska has outscored opponents, 38-27, while earning more points, 109-83. The Cornhuskers have also totaled more shots, 258-216, while the opposition owns the advantage in corner kicks, 89-63, and saves, 91-74.
Illinois and Nebraska last met during the 2005 regular season, when the No. 13-nationally ranked Illini earned victory at home, 1-0, over the No. 17 Cornhuskers on Sept. 2. Natasha Karniski (2002-05) put away the eventual game-winner in the 61st minute on a cross from Ella Masar (2004-07), while Lindsey Carstens (2004-07) stopped three shots in net to secure the clean sheet. The Orange and Blue also defeated the Cornhuskers during the 2004 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen in Champaign, Ill., 2-1, making the Illini the only team from the Big Ten to claim victory over Nebraska more than once.
Nods of Approval
Through nine weeks, the Illini have been recognized as a talented team among the national and Great Lakes region leaders. After debuting at No. 24 in the official NSCAA poll, the Orange and Blue now sit in the 25th spot overall as a result of the Orange and Blue's current five-game winning streak. Illinois is also featured at No. 31 in Top Drawer Soccer's Tournament 64, a breakdown of the squads that Top Drawer Soccer believes will reach the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
While the Illini receive national recognition as a squad, the Big Ten Conference, Top Drawer Soccer, Soccer America and Chicagoland Soccer News have singled out sophomore Vanessa DiBernardo with weekly accolades in honor of Illinois' success. The conference named DiBernardo the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22 and Oct. 3, as the Naperville, Ill., native sits among the leaders in the conference in goals and points, while Chicagoland Soccer News followed suit by naming DiBernardo as its regional player of the week after the same performances. Top Drawer Soccer and Soccer America also added DiBernardo on their respective Team of the Week listings, the only Big Ten student-athlete to earn both awards following the first weekend series of the season. Top Drawer Soccer and Soccer America have since named DiBernardo to their teams of the week a second time, awarding a spot on both Oct. 3 weekly releases.
Chicagoland Soccer News also noticed the success of other Fighting Illini student-athletes early in the season, with Niki Read taking home player of the week honors on Aug. 29 following her hat trick at Ball State, while Megan Pawloski totaled the same award on Sept. 12. DiBernardo was also recognized as an all-tournament selection for the Illini/Boilermaker Challenge as well as the LSU Invitational, along with Read and Marissa Mykines (Illini/Boilermaker Challenge) and Pawloski and Jackie Guerra (LSU Invitational).
Recently the defense that has been lauded for its success following four consecutive 1-0 shutouts of Purdue, Michigan State in double overtime, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Jenna Carosio earned Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10 following Illinois' shutout of the Spartans, while Carosio was mentioned as a College Soccer 360 Primetime Performer on Oct. 18, with the Illini taking contests against the Gophers and Badgers in shutout fashion. Junior goalkeeper Steph Panozzo also received the first conference weekly honor of her career on Oct. 17, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after shutting out Minnesota and Wisconsin with seven saves combined. Chicagoland Soccer News also singled out Panozzo following her performances against the Gophers and Badgers, naming the Maple Ridge, British Columbia, native the regional player of the week.
High Octane Offense
Through 16 games, the second place Fighting Illini own 105 points on 39 goals and 27 assists - the most points ever recorded through 16 contests during the Janet Rayfield era. The Illini have achieved this feat through consistently scoring goals, while producing tallies in excess on occasion to supplement the total. Illinois earned its most points at this mark in any individual season during the 1998 campaign, when the Illini owned 136 points. Illinois has also topped the 100 points plateau through 16 matches in 1997 (116) and 2000 (109). Under Rayfield, the previous best was 87, achieved in 2006 as the Illini made their way to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen. As a testament to the Illini's consistent production, Illinois has produced at least one tally in all but one contest this season, the only team in the Big Ten held to fewer than two shutouts on the year.
Among NCAA leaders, the Illini own a tie for 20th overall in the nation in scoring offense (2.44 goals per game), while the Orange and Blue's .719 winning percentage this season ranks tied for 43rd in Division-I women's soccer. Individually, Vanessa DiBernardo ranks in the top-25 in five separate categories. DiBernardo is tied for third in game-winning marks (7) and tied for ninth in the nation in total goals (13). The Naperville, Ill., native is also tied for 15th in total points (31), tied for 17th in goals per game (.813) and tied for 20th in points per game (1.94).
Within the Big Ten, the Illini lead all teams with 304 shots, own second for goals scored (39) and third in points (105) and goals scored per contest (2.44). The Illini also rank among the top teams with 27 assists and 1.69 assists per game, good for fourth overall. In Big Ten-only statistics, the Illini also own first in shots attempts (138) while sitting in fourth for points (34), tied for fourth in goals (11) and goals per game (1.38) and fifth in assists (12) and assists per game (1.50). Individually, DiBernardo continues to spearhead the offensive push, standing fourth in the conference in goals (13) and points (31). DiBernardo is also among Big Ten leaders in game-winning goals, with seven, and is third in shots (77) and shots per game (4.81).
Where's It Going To Come From?
While Vanessa DiBernardo has led the charge with an Illinois-best 13 goals and five assist, the Orange and Blue offense has maintained a team-wide outburst to record 105 points in only 16 games (6.56 points per game).
Megan Pawloski, a Big Ten All-Freshman honoree one season ago, has surpassed her 2010 statistical impact by producing six goals and two assists for 14 points, highlighted by the Althoff Catholic graduate's game-tying mark against Louisville and multi-goal performance against Oregon.
Niki Read began the season strong, producing a goal and assist against Gonzaga before tallying a seven-point contest at Ball State two games later. Against the Cardinals, Read produced a hat trick and an assist to become one of only five Illini to ever record seven or more points in a single game, matching her 2010 points total of 10 in the process. Read has since added four additional assists, one each against Colorado, Oregon, Indiana and Minnesota.
Marissa Mykines earned a goal and two assists against Gonzaga to match DiBernardo's four-point output versus the Bulldogs. Mykines then followed with an insurance goal against Toledo, extending Illinois' lead to 3-1 while matching her 2010 season points output of six in the process. Mykines has since surpassed her previous year's points total by contributing a game-tying goal vs. Colorado and an insurance tally against Indiana before recording the game-winning mark in double overtime at Michigan State, surpassing her previous individual season points recorded career high (11 in 2009) with 12 on the current season.
Julie Ewing, a defender in her first three years at Illinois, follows with a career-best three goals, recording one each against Gonzaga, Toledo and Oregon, while totaling her first assist of the year against Indiana.
Following a year-long recovery from a devastating knee injury suffered in her final high school soccer game, Jannelle Flaws has made an immediate impact off the bench in her redshirt-freshman season. Flaws has seven points on two goals and three assists, notching her tallies against Pepperdine and Ohio State, while contributing assists against Oregon, Iowa and Indiana. All of Flaws' seven points have come during the nine most recent Illini contests.
Shayla Mutz earned the game-winning goal in overtime at Louisville, while adding an assist on a Pawloski goal against No. 13 Pepperdine. Mutz also owns the game-tying strike at Iowa, a header shot in the 68th minute, and assisted on the winning tally against Wisconsin in Illinois' most recent contest.
The Defense Puts Its Foot Down
After allowing 17 goals through the opening 11 contests the Illinois defense has stamped out opponents over the previous five games by only allowing one goal (0.19 GAA) en route to a 5-0 record during that span. Four consecutive opponents have fell victim to the Illini defense, as Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota and Wisconsin have all been shutout en route to identical 1-0 Illinois triumphs.
Prior to setting down Purdue, the Orange and Blue dominated Indiana, 4-1, with the Illini defense holding strong throughout the first half, allowing the offense to find its rhythm and net three second-half goals to create the difference. After giving up a game-tying goal against the Hoosiers in the 48th minute, the Illini defense clamped down to hold opponents scoreless over the last 415 minutes of action.
Jenna Carosio and Steph Panozzo have spearheaded the recent success as Illinois' center defender and goalkeeper, respectively; each responsible for shaping and organizing the defensive efforts throughout the contests. For Carosio's and the entire defense's efforts, the Novi, Mich., native was awarded the Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week Award on Oct. 10. Carosio also took home College Soccer 360 Primetime Performer honors on Oct. 18, after the senior helped organize the Illini's shutout efforts over Minnesota and Wisconsin, extending Illinois' consecutive scoreless streak to 415 minutes in the process.
Panozzo has stepped up her play to help Carosio and account for the reduced goals-against mark, stopping 14 of 15 attempts on net (.933 save percentage) to lower her goals-against average to 1.09 allowed per game on the season, and a paltry 0.71 per Big Ten contest. For Panozzo's success, the Big Ten recognized the Maple Ridge, British Columbia, native's efforts with the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award on Oct. 17 and Chicagoland Soccer News followed suit on Oct. 18 with its regional player of the week honor.
