Marbury Lifts @IlliniSoccer Over Nebraska, 3-1

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Champaign, Ill. - Sophomore Kara Marbury headed in two goals for Illinois on Sunday, Oct. 18, helping to lift the Orange and Blue over Nebraska, 3-1. Sophomore Katherine Ratz also scored for the Illini in the match, earning her first career goal. With Sunday's victory, Illinois improves to 9-4-3 on the season, and 3-3-3 in conference play.

"I think what I saw today was a team that was smart, intelligent and gritty," head coach Janet Rayfield said of the Illini. "Nebraska really gave us a different problem to solve by dropping off to the mid stripe and being really compact. We thought we were going to play through them, but our team fought through that frustration when we couldn't. But then, we came out without frustration and ready to solve some problems in the second half. I think when you do that, then you get passion, you get fun and you get grit, all at the same time. And that's what we saw in the second half. I'm proud of them for finding that place where they can compete and be gritty but have fun at the same time."

The first half was quiet for both teams as Nebraska and Illinois battled through the middle for most of the period. The Illini were able to get two shots off before the break, while Nebraska tallied four. The Illini were a different team after the break, however. Just a few minutes into the second half, Marbury added some excitement onto the field as she hit a perfectly placed header into the back of the net for the 1-0 Illini lead. 

Marbury did not stop there, however, as she connected on another header just five minutes later. Marbury's two goals in the match mark the first time in her career she has scored more than one goal in a match. Marbury's scores were assisted by Sarah Warren and Allison Stucky. Warren has one assist on the season so far, while Sunday's assist marks the second for Stucky this year. 

"Both Sarah and Allison played perfect balls over their line and I just happened to be there and was able to get my head on it," Marbury said of her two goals. "It felt really good to get back on the field today after being out for a week, and to be able to score two goals was really exciting. It was a lot of fun today, our team brought a lot of energy."

The Orange and Blue kept on rolling through the half, as just nine minutes later, sophomore Katherine Ratz gave the Illini an even larger lead.  Ratz found the back of the net to make it 3-0 in Illinois' favor. The goal marks the first for Ratz in her career, and her first this season. 

The Illini were dominant in the second half of play, firing 11 shots at the Nebraska net. The Cornhurskers were able to get six shots off after the break, including a goal in the 82nd minute of play. Junior Claire Wheatley grabbed five saves in the match, and earned another win to improve to 9-4-3 on the season. 

The Illini will host Senior Night next weekend, welcoming Northwestern to Illinois Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest on Illinois Soccer, and follow the team on social media (Twitter: @IlliniSoccer, Facebook: Facebook.com/IlliniSoccer, Instagram: @IlliniSoccer).