Skip To Main Content

University of Illinois Athletics

Hope Breslin
0
Illinois ILL (1-3-0)
2
Winner Illinois State ILS (1-2-1)
Illinois ILL
(1-3-0)
0
Final
2
Illinois State ILS
(1-2-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Illinois ILL 0 0 0
Illinois State ILS 1 1 2

Game Recap: Soccer |

Illini Soccer Falls at Illinois State

NORMAL, Ill. – Fighting Illini Soccer dropped its first road match of the season to Illinois State on a rainy Sunday evening. Freshman Hope Breslin fired a team-leading four shots for the Illini, while sophomore goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham grabbed eight saves on the night. With the 2-0 loss, the Illini fall to 1-3-0 on the season.

"I give credit to Illinois State tonight," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "They fought together and with a spirit that we didn't match.  We have to make sure our efforts to see our weaknesses, learn, improve and get better don't get in the way of competing with confidence, unity and heart - and that's my responsibility.  This does not shake my belief in what this team is capable of becoming or what we can achieve.  Tomorrow is the next day in that process."

The Illini worked to create several long-range scoring opportunities in the first half as junior Lauren Ciesla and Breslin fired the first shots for the Orange and Blue.  Freshman Gabbi Chapa also added a long-range shot on goal for the Illini before the halftime break. Illinois State took a lead lead into halftime, netting a goal in the 45th minute.

Illinois State continued to pressure the Illini defense to start the second half, but UI returned the favor with several early scoring opportunities. Sophomore Kelly Maday tallied back-to-back chances for Illinois as she carried the ball into the box and fired a shot that was deflected just above the net. She tallied another shot just one minute later that sailed just past the right post. Despite several second-half opportunities for the Illini, ISU added another goal in in the 77th minute to secure the victory.

Led by Breslin, three players posted multiple shots including Maday and junior Katie Murray.  The Redbirds outshot the Illini 29-12, and Illinois put five of its shots on frame.  

Illinois will continue its road stretch next weekend, heading first to Evansville on Friday (Sept. 1) before taking on Miami (OH) on Sunday (Sept. 3). Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois Soccer.

Print Friendly Version