@IlliniSoccer Battles Ohio State to 1-1 Tie at Illinois Soccer Stadium

Champaign, Ill. - Junior Allison Stucky scored her third goal of the season on Friday as the Illini battled the wind out at Illinois Soccer Stadium. Illinois and the visiting Buckeyes played to a 1-1 tie in the double overtime match, giving Illinois an 8-2-2 record overall and a 2-1-2 record in conference play. Junior goalkeeper Claire Wheatley tallied seven saves in the match, playing in all 110 minutes of the game.

"It was another hard-fought, Big Ten battle," head coach Janet Rayfield said of the match. "We've worked all season to get 10 shots on frame and we got that tonight. I think both goalkeepers had great performances, Claire made a couple great saves and their keeper also made some great saves. It was one of those games where neither team could find the perfect opportunity and beat two very good goalkeepers."

The Orange and Blue struck first on Friday night, as redshirt senior Jannelle Flaws passed forward to Stucky in the 18th minute of play. Stucky found a hole and was able to place a shot past the keeper towards the far post. The goal was Stucky's third of the season, a number that ties her for second on the team with sophomore Kara Marbury. 

Flaws currently leads the team with six assists on the season, and with tonight's assist, Flaws takes ownership of the Illinois Career Points record as she now has accumulated 116 points in her career (51 goals, 14 assists).

The Buckeyes responded soon after, scoring a goal of their own in the 21st minute. The two teams would go into the halftime break tied, 1-1. The Illini fired five shots on goal before the break, allowing just two from Ohio State. The Buckeyes got a total of three shots off in the half, allowing the Illini 10. 

The strong crosswind was a major factor in the game, and the Buckeyes had the advantage after the break. Wheatley was quick to mark her territory, however, as she came off her line to stifle a Buckeye shot just two minutes into the second half. Just 15 minutes later, the Plano, Texas, native punched a high OSU shot over the goal for another major save. 

Ohio State fired eight shots in the second half of the game, putting six of them on goal. It was not enough, however, and the game was forced into overtime. With 20 seconds on the clock in regulation, Wheatley made yet another clutch save, punching out an OSU corner kick to shut down any scoring opportunities.  

"Obviously playing two double overtime games in a row is really not what you're looking for," Wheatley said of the game. "But we're going to push as hard as we can for as long as we need to. While today may not have been exactly the result we wanted, I think we really fought hard and that's what matters"

Illinois finished the game with 22 shots overall, totaling 12 on goal. Wheatley's seven saves were just one short of her season-best performance. The Illini will have a Sunday off, before heading on the road to face both Michigan State and Michigan next weekend. 

"Certainly now we have to take the grittiness we've found here in Champaign and pack that on the bus when we head to Michigan," Rayfield said of the upcoming weekend (Oct. 8-11). "I think if we go on the road and play with this kind of grit it won't matter whether we're on this field or anywhere else. If we play with this grit, we will put ourselves in position to win."

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