Nov. 2, 2011
Printable Big Ten Tournament Notes 
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2011 Big Ten Tournament Notes
Game 20: #18 Illinois (14-4-1, 8-2-1) vs. Ohio State (10-8-1, 5-5-1)
Wednesday, Nov. 2 // 1:30 p.m. CT // Lakeside Field // Evanston, Ill.
Game Coverage
Live Statistics: Available on fightingillini.com
Live Blog: Available on fightingillini.com
Live Stream: Available on BTN.com (purchasable)
The Series
Ohio State leads the all-time series, 8-7-0. (Last meeting: Ohio State 2, #22 Illinois 1; Sept. 23, 2011)
Just For Kicks
Illinois...
... won eight straight games for the first time in program history, breaking the previous record of seven held by the 2004 Illini.
... is 12-0-0 when scoring the first goal of the game and 10-1-1 when scoring at least two goals in a contest.
... 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 73 games when scoring three or more goals, dating back to 1999.
... finished 6-2-0 in non-conference play, the fifth consecutive and 13th overall year Illinois started the Big Ten season with a winning mark.
... produced five consecutive shutouts for the third time in program history and first since 2007.
... won four consecutive games by 1-0 margins for the first time in program history (Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin).
Illinois In The Big Ten Tournament
Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 1997 in the program's first season, Illinois has reached the Big Ten Tournament each fall it was hosted outside of the Illini's inaugural year - a total of 11 appearances. The Orange and Blue were Big Ten Tournament Champions during the 2003 season and finished runners-up in 2001 and 2006 whilethe tournament was not held during 2009 or 2010, making the current installment the first since 2008.
In Illinois' first four appearances, the Orange and Blue exited the tournament following losses to the eventual champions, including a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat to Penn State in overtime during the 2001 tournament, held at Indiana University. After falling in the second round to Wisconsin during their 2002 showing, the Illini earned the only Big Ten Tournament Title to date in 2003 at Wisconsin.
To earn the championship as the #2 seed, the Illini shut out three consecutive opponents by two-goal margins, downing #7 Michigan State in the quarterfinals followed by victories over #3 Purdue in the semifinals and #4 Michigan during the 2003 Big Ten Tournament Championship.
Since earning the title, the Orange and Blue have reached at least the semifinal in every season outside of 2008, including a berth in the 2006 championship game after wins over #7-seed Wisconsin, 3-0, and #3-seed Purdue, 1-0. All-time, Illinois is 12-9-2 (.565 winning percentage) in Big Ten Tournament play, the fourth-best mark among all conference programs.
Last Time Out
In the final contest of the regular season, the University of Illinois soccer team defeated Michigan, 3-2, during "Senior Night" to secure its eighth straight victory of the year, breaking the previous program record for consecutive wins, set over the course of the first seven contests of the 2004 season. Seniors Julie Ewing and Jenna Carosio and redshirt-freshman Jannelle Flaws tallied one goal each to create the margin of victory, improving the Illini record to 14-4-1 overall and 8-2-1 in Big Ten play.
Flaws totaled her third mark of the season to give Illinois a one-goal lead with 16:46 remaining in the first half. Sophomore defender Kassidy Brown stole possession away from the Michigan defense near the right corner flag. Brown then dribbled toward net before passing across the goal-mouth to Flaws, who used one touch to re-direct the ball into the lower-left corner of the net.
Ewing added the second goal of the contest for the Illini six minutes and 31 seconds into the second half. Brown started Illinois' second scoring play in similar fashion to the first, taking control of the ball from the Michigan defense near the right corner flag - this time finding Ewing as the Batavia, Ill., native raced into the center of the 18-yard box, with Ewing trapping the ball and firing a shot into the lower-right corner for the two-goal advantage.
Michigan (9-8-2, 4-6-1) tallied its first goal of the game on a shot by Nkem Ezurike following a pass from Christina Murillo in the 74th minute; however, the Wolverines physical style of play cost them dearly, as the Michigan defense was called for a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty kick attempt for Carosio with six minutes left in the game. Carosio took the opportunity to re-establish the two-goal lead for Illinois, placing a forceful shot past Michigan goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer.
The Wolverines tallied once more at the 85:48 mark on Kim Siebert's first goal of the season; however, the Orange and Blue maintained possession throughout the final minutes to seal the win, with sophomore Megan Pawloski nearly recording a pair of goals in the process. During the final minute of play, Pawloski earned a pair of chances from inside the 18-yard box as the Illini kept numbers forward to maintain pressure on the Michigan defense. At the 89:25 and 89:40 marks, Pawloski fired on-target attempts; only to have Kopmeyer spoil the shots with diving saves each time.
Weekly Preview
Illinois begins play at the 2011 Big Ten Tournament in Evanston, Ill., with a match-up against the Ohio State Buckeyes (10-8-1 overall, 5-5-1 Big Ten). Earlier this season, Ohio State defeated the Illini in Columbus, Ohio, 2-1, in Illinois' first of only two Big Ten defeats on the season.
Tiffany Cameron and 2010 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Paige Maxwell lead the Buckeyes offense this season. Cameron and Maxwell each own 12 points on the year, with Cameron accomplishing the total on six goals while Maxwell owns two marks and eight assists. Kiiri Kuld follows with nine points on two goals and five assists, while Lauren Granberg, Chelsy Swackhammer and Danica Wu each tallied six points during the regular season.
In goal, Katie Baumgardner has seen the majority of time, starting and playing in each of the Buckeyes 19 games - totaling 1,569 minutes in net. Baumgardner has allowed 17 goals for a 0.98 goals-against average, stopping 52 shots in the process to secure a .754 save percentage. Baumgardner's efforts earned the senior a 9-7-1 record overall, while the Sterling, Va., native shut out six opponents on the season.
In total, the Ohio State offense is outscoring opponents, 24-19, and outshooting the opposition, 316-208. The Buckeyes have also earned 109 corner kicks to 81 for their foes, while fouls are nearly even at 214-207, with Ohio State being called for the lesser total.
The last time Illinois and Ohio State met, the Orange and Blue fell, 2-1, in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 23, 2011. Jannelle Flaws tallied in the 38th minute for the Illini; however, a pair of goals by Granberg created the difference in the contest - with the junior forward striking for the Buckeyes in the 26th and 57th minutes. All-time, Ohio State leads the head-to-head series, 8-7, while the upcoming contest will be the first post-season meeting between the programs.
Nods of Approval
Through 11 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 18th spot overall as a result of the Orange and Blue's current eight-game winning streak, jumping five spaces after defeating Northwestern, 3-0, and Nebraska, 3-1, before bumping up two more after ending Michigan's season with a 3-2 victory on "Senior Night." Illinois is also featured at No. 19 in Soccer America's weekly standings and No. 22 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' offensive 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 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 award 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. Panozzo followed with her second consecutive weekly Big Ten award on Oct. 24, becoming only the second defensive player to earn back-to-back laurels during 2011. 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 on Oct. 18.
High Octane Offense
Through the end of the 19-game regular season, the Illini own 129 points on 48 goals and 33 assists - the most points ever recorded through 19 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 176 points. Illinois has also topped the 100-points plateau through 19 matches in 2000 (148 points), 2001 (119), 1999 (119), 1997 (104) and 2006 (100). Under Rayfield, the previous best was the 100 points earned 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 a single 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 14th overall in the nation in scoring offense (2.53 goals per game), while the Orange and Blue's .763 winning percentage this season ranks tied for 25th in Division-I women's soccer. Individually, Vanessa DiBernardo ranks in the top-20 in five separate categories. DiBernardo is tied for fourth in game-winning marks (7) and 13th in total goals (15). The Naperville, Ill., native also stands alone in 14th in goals per game (0.833) while tying for 17th in points per game (1.94) and 20th in total points (35). Within the Big Ten, the Illini placed second in a cluster of major offensive statistics, taking second in shots (347), points (129), goals (48) and goals per game (2.53), while finishing tied for fourth in shutouts (7) and fifth in assists (33) and assists per game (1.74). Within Big Ten play specifically, Illinois finished in the top-5 in shots (2nd, 181), goals (t-2nd, 20), goals per game (t-2nd, 1.82), fewest goals allowed (t-2nd, nine), goals against average (3rd, 0.78), points (3rd, 58), assists (t-4th, 18) and assists per game (t-4th, 1.82).
Individually, goalkeeper Steph Panozzo heightened her play during Big Ten contests, earning the second-most shutouts (4) and third-best goals-against average among conference goalies (0.79). Vanessa DiBernardo again sparked the offense throughout the majority of Big Ten play, finishing in the top-10 in every major offensive category as a result of earning 16 points on six goals and four assists. Where's It Going To Come From?
While Vanessa DiBernardo has led the charge with an Illinois-best 15 goals and five assists, the Orange and Blue offense has maintained a team-wide outburst to record 129 points in only 19 games (6.79 points per game).
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. Mykines followed with another game-winner at Northwestern before kick-starting the Illini offense with an early goal at Nebraska, bring her season totals to seven goals, two assists and 16 points.
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 five additional assists, one each against Colorado, Oregon, Indiana, Minnesota and Northwestern for a team-leading seven on the year.
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.
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. Mutz was incredibly productive against Northwestern and Nebraska, tallying one mark against the Wildcats before facilitating two goals at Nebraska, bumping her season total to 10 points on three goals and four assists.
Julie Ewing, a defender in her first three years at Illinois, follows with a career-best four goals, recording one each against Gonzaga, Toledo, Oregon and Michigan while totaling individual assists against Indiana and Northwestern to earn a career-best 10 points.
Following a year-long recovery from a devastating knee injury suffered in her final high school game, Jannelle Flaws has made an immediate impact mainly off the bench in her redshirt-freshman season. Flaws has nine points on three goals and three assists, notching her tallies against Pepperdine, Ohio State and Michigan, while contributing assists against Oregon, Iowa and Indiana. All of Flaws' nine points have come during the 12 most recent Illini contests, including the mark against Michigan in her first collegiate start.
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 eight games by only allowing four goals (0.49 GAA) en route to an 8-0 record during that span. Five consecutive opponents fell victim to the Illini defense, as Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Northwestern were all held scoreless by the Orange and Blue defense, before Illinois outpaced Nebraska, 3-1 to reach 7-2-1 in Big Ten play and secure the #2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
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 553 consecutive minutes of play, only 78 minutes shy of the program record. Most recently, the Orange and Blue triumphed over Michigan, 3-2, marking the first time the Illini allowed more than one goal in nine contests as the Wolverines fought for a needed win in order to continue their season.
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 each contest. For Carosio's and the entire defense's efforts, the Novi, Mich., native was awarded the Big Ten 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.
Panozzo has stepped up her play to help Carosio and account for the reduced goals-against mark, stopping 25 of 29 attempts on net (.862 save percentage) to lower her goals-against average to 1.08 allowed per game on the season, and only 0.79 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 Oct. 24, only the second player in the conference to earn back-to-back defensive awards, while Chicagoland Soccer News followed suit on Oct. 18 with its regional player of the week honor.
Lethal Accuracy
Though sophomore forward Megan Pawloski does not shoot often, only totaling 20 shots over 19 games on the current season, Pawloski owns six goals among her 11 on-target shots - good for a 54.5 percent conversion rate, the highest among all Illini. Pawloski recorded a pair of goals at Oregon after recording a lone goal against No. 14 Pepperdine, totaling a mark on each of her three attempts on the weekend. Pawloski also has individual goals against Louisville, Indiana and Wisconsin, with the goal against the Badgers being the game-winner. Pawloski's sophomore performances are on par with her freshman season debut, with Pawloski's career totals standing at 11 goals on 21 on-target shots (52.4%).
Finding Feet
For the second consecutive season, junior forward Niki Read led the Illini in assists, accumulating seven during the 2011 regular season - the most for a single Illini since Chichi Nweke totaled seven during the 2007 season. For her career, Read now owns nine goals and 15 assists for 33 total points, with the Lake Orion, Mich., native's four goals and seven assists each setting single-season personal records. Read recorded her first assist of the season in the season-opening win over Gonzaga, adding additional assists against Ball State, Colorado, Oregon, Indiana, Minnesota and Northwestern.
Avoiding The Sophomore Slump
After leading the Big Ten with 11 goals and five assists during her freshman season a year ago, now-sophomore midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo exceeded expectations set following the immediate adjustment to the college game, recording 35 points on 15 goals and five assists in 2011. DiBernardo tallied four multi-goal games and 12 multi-point performances; recording at least one point in 15 of the 18 games she played in.
With 37 games of college soccer over the previous two seasons, DiBernardo owns 26 goals and 10 assists, giving the Waubonsie Valley graduate 62 career points - the fifth-most for an individual Illini ever. DiBernardo also ranks in the career top-10 in goals (sixth) and game-winners (11, t-fourth). Individually, DiBernardo's 2011 season ranks as one of the most dominant in program history, with DiBernardo's seven game-winning goals tying for first in Illinois history for most in an individual season. Also, DiBernardo's 15 goals tying her for second with Emily Brown all-time, while the 35 total points also ties DiBernardo for second-most in any individual season in program history.
Fighting Illini Media Coverage
The University of Illinois soccer squad received 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 were featured on the conference's television network, while WDWS carried five home matches.
Illinois' home-opener against Gonzaga was broadcast by WDWS and the Illini Sports Network also covered the Orange and Blue's match-ups with USC, Purdue, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The Big Ten Network aired a delayed broadcast of Illinois' contest at Michigan State on Oct. 8, with the game showing on the network on Oct. 9. The following weekend, the BTN broadcast live from Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium during SoccerFest 2011, as Illinois hosted the Wisconsin Badgers at 3 p.m. on Oct. 16. The Big Ten Student U broadcast two additional contests, in Illinois' games at Penn State on Sept. 25, 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 // W, 1-0 (2OT)
vs. Wisconsin // W, 1-0
Illinois on BTN Student U
at Penn State // L, 0-1
at Northwestern // W, 3-0
at Nebraska // W, 3-1
Illinois on WDWS AM 1400
vs. Gonzaga // W, 5-1
vs. USC // L, 1-3
vs. Purdue // W, 1-0
vs. Minnesota // W, 1-0
vs. Wisconsin // W, 1-0
*next-day delay
