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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Despite falling 2-1 to Michigan on Sunday at the Illinois Soccer Stadium, the Illini remained in seventh place in the Big Ten and clinched a berth into the Big Ten Tournament with the loss by Nebraska. Junior Reagan Robishaw struck first to give Illinois a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute, but Michigan responded with a goal in the ninth minute and the game-winning goal in the 60th minute, both coming on restarts.

"I feel bad for the team because this is one where I feel like we played well enough to win," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "Aside from the two restarts, it was one of the best defensive games we have played. We did the things we need to do to get a win, but needed to do a better job in those two moments on the restart goals."

UI finished with a 23-8 advantage in shots, including a 17-3 edge in the second half, but was unable to find the equalizer. Senior Jannelle Flaws took a season-high 10 shots and assisted on the Robishaw goal but was held without a goal for the second straight game. It marks just the third time Flaws has been held scoreless in consecutive games since the start of 2013.

The Illini's first tally came when Flaws flicked the ball ahead into the right side of the box to Robishaw who beat the keeper into the upper left corner. The Painesville, Ohio, native earned her second goal of the season, while Flaws picked up her third assist.

The Orange and Blue only led for a minute and 37 seconds, as the Wolverines scored the equalizer on a corner kick. Ani Sarkisian sent the ball into the box and Taylor Timko knocked it into the net. The game was tied heading into halftime, with Illinois posting a 6-5 edge in shots.

After an Illinois foul outside the box in the 60th minute, Michigan scored a set piece goal to grab a 2-1 lead. The Illini controlled the possession and had four corner kicks in the second half, but could not capitalize on their chances. Nine different Illini attempted at least one shot.

Michigan (12-4-2) improved to 8-2-2 in the Big Ten, while Illinois (10-7-1) dropped to 5-6-1 in the conference. The Illini are alone in seventh place in the Big Ten with 16 points and cannot drop out of the top eight. Maryland sits at eighth in the conference with 14 points at 3-4-5.

Up Next: The Illini will celebrate Senior Night when it takes on Wisconsin on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Illinois Soccer Stadium to close out the regular season. The Big Ten Tournament will be hosted by Purdue from Nov. 5-9. Illinois will be the No. 7 seed in the tournament with a win or tie in its final game or a tie or loss by Maryland. A Maryland victory and an Illinois loss would make the Illini the No. 8 seed.