Highlights (Illini Productions)
Postgame Interviews: Rayfield | Carosio | DiBernardo | Panozzo | Read
EVANSTON, Ill. - In Illinois soccer's second meeting with Ohio State on the year, this time in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, the Illini used penalty kicks to advance to the semifinal round after playing to a one-goal draw through double overtime on Wednesday afternoon. Vanessa DiBernardo tallied the lone regulation goal for the Orange and Blue, while junior goalkeeper Steph Panozzo stopped two Buckeye penalty kicks to secure the win. With the tie, Illinois secures the longest unbeaten streak in program history after setting the consecutive wins mark against Michigan in the final regular season contest.
"I'm proud of the way this team fought back," Illinois head coach Janet Rayfield said. "Somewhere in the middle of the first half we found energy and our fight. This game was a Big Ten battle with lots of fouls and the game didn't have rhythm. This team, in the past eight games, just keeps finding a way to win, and when you have a team like that it's fun to coach."
The Buckeyes (10-8-3 overall, 5-5-1 Big Ten) recorded the first goal of the contest in the 17th minute, tallying on a rebound after the initial shot bounced off the crossbar. Kristen Niederhaus fired in the initial attempt, which deflect right to Paige Maxwell's feet - allowing the senior forward to re-direct the ball into Illinois' goal.
DiBernardo equalized the contest with time running down in the first half for Illinois (14-4-2, 8-2-1). Ohio State employed a physical style throughout the opening 45 minutes, being called for 13 fouls as a result. Following the final penalty of the half, which occurred 25 yards up-field from the left post of the Buckeye goal, DiBernardo stepped up and drilled a shot into the left side of the net, past the outstretched arms of Buckeyes goalkeeper, Katie Baumgardner, with two minutes left in the opening stanza.
"We had two or three restarts around the box and Vanessa put that one away," Rayfield said. "Ohio State had some similar to that and we made the save or our wall got in the way and that really was the difference in the game."
The Orange and Blue and Buckeyes played scoreless soccer through the remaining 65 minutes to force penalty kicks. After double overtime, the Illini sent DiBernardo, Marissa Mykines, Kassidy Brown and Niki Read to the line, with each finding the corner while avoiding Baumgardner's hands to secure the victory.
After DiBerardo tallied the first PK, Danica Wu answered for Ohio State. Mykines converted next while Panozzo stopped Liz Sullivans attempt with a diving save to give the Illini the lead, 2-1. After Brown and Colleen Brady exchanged penalty kick goals, Read found the back of the net to put Illinois ahead, 4-2. With Kristen Niederhaus needing to convert to keep the session going for Ohio State, Panozzo earned the final stop with a two-handed block while diving toward the right post.
"We got into the huddle and said we had trained for this and done this, everyone go do your job," Rayfield said. "Steph needed to make one save and everyone had to put their attempts on frame and that's how you win a game like this. Steph made two saves, she has a great quickness so if she can get a jump, guess right and get to the right side she has a chance to make those saves."
Illinois continues Big Ten Tournament action in the semifinal round against #3-seeded Michigan State on Friday, Nov. 4 at 1:15 p.m. In the only meeting on the season between the Illini and Spartans, Mykines earned the game-winning goal in double overtime as part of Illinois' 1-0 win in East Lansing, Mich., on Oct. 8.
