CHAMPAIGN- Fighting Illini soccer dropped its Big Ten home opener to Maryland on Friday night, 1-0. Despite a strong defensive effort from the Orange and Blue, the Terrapins netted the game-winner in the 84th minute of play to improve to 7-1-1 on the season and 1-1-0 in Big Ten Play. Illini goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham grabbed nine saves in the match, while sophomores Kelly Maday and Arianna Veland led Illinois offensively with three shots each. Illinois falls to 3-8-0 on the season and 0-3-0 in league play.
"I think we competed," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "I think with our effort and our energy, there were moments where we played some really good soccer. We had some great passing sequences and created some really good looks and opportunities. We have to continue to do that. We are playing the kind of soccer that we wanted to play weeks ago, and now we have to reap the benefit of that moving forward."
Maday started to fire at the Terrapin net early in the match, recording a shot off of an Illini corner kick in the fourth minute of play. She added two more shots on the night, putting one on frame in the 57th minute. Veland put two shots on goal in the opening period, and fired another with just three minutes left on the clock. Juniors Lauren Ciesla, Morgan Maroney and Katie Murray also contributed offensively for Illinois.
Illinois put five of its nine shots on frame, while the Terrapins fired 10 shots on goal. Cunningham's nine saves on the night are just one shy of her career-high, which she recorded at Penn State on Sept. 17.
Next up, Illinois will host No. 12 Rutgers on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will mark youth soccer and scout day, and Illinois will host the annual 100 Kids vs. Illinois Soccer event following the match. Registration for 100 Kids vs. Illinois Soccer is free, and the first 100 children to sign up receive a unique numbered t-shirt.
