CHAMPAIGN - Fighting Illini soccer dropped a hard-fought match to the Wisconsin Badgers on Thursday night, 1-0. Despite the Illini battling through the midfield for much of the game, Wisconsin netted a late goal to take the match. Illinois moves to 5-11-0 on the season and 2-6-0 in Big Ten play.
"It was a hard-fought battle in some pretty slick conditions," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "Between the rain and the dew, the ball was slipping and it created a really physical, gritty battle tonight. I thought our team fought hard, we had a great chance to score, and then they got a chance to score. Theirs goes in and ours slides wide, that's the difference in the game."
The Illini defense was put to work early on as the Badgers earned two corner kicks early in the match. Sophomore goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham carded her first save of the game in the 18th minute, swiping one of the corner kicks near the upper corner of the net. Both teams worked to earn the advantage throughout the first half, spending most of the period in the middle third. Junior Lauren Ciesla fired Illinois' first shot of the match, while sophomore Arianna Veland also added a shot before halftime. Both teams recorded two shots before the break and Cunningham collected two saves.
The two teams continued to battle through the second half, but the Badgers posted the first three shots after the break. Junior Katie Murray created the first opportunity of the half for the Illini as she looked to capitalize off of a pass from Patricia George who crossed it just in front of the Badger goal. Murray's shot slid just wide of the post, escaping the Wisconsin keeper as well. George added a shot of her own in the 79th minute as well.
Despite holding Wisconsin to its second-lowest shot total in Big Ten play, the Badgers netted the game-winner in the 87th minute. The Orange and Blue fired four shots in the match, putting one on goal. Cunningham closed the match with three saves. Her 95 saves this season are just 16 shy of the program's all-time single-season saves record.
Next up, Illinois will host No. 23 Minnesota on Sunday at 1 p.m. Illini fans are encouraged to wear orange to the match for Hail to the Orange Day, and Illinois will give away t-shirts to fans in attendance. The Orange and Blue will also honor the senior class prior to first touch.
Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois soccer.
