CHAMPAIGN – A second-half surge from the Illini offense carried the Orange and Blue over the 14th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Friday evening. Sophomore Hope Breslin and junior Arianna Veland netted goals in the second half, and the Illini defense stayed strong to hold off Oklahoma State and give the Illini their second victory over a ranked opponent this season. The Illini improve to 3-2-0 on the season and will host SIUE on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"I thought our performance tonight was fantastic," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "Oklahoma State is a good team, and I thought we just kept fighting. We got chances and we never let up. That's what I'm most proud of tonight, they fought all the way through. I think when you do that you can beat some ranked opponents."
Illinois did not waste any time to start the match as UI fired the first four shots of the night. The Orange and Blue defense was also tough from the beginning, holding the Cowgirls without a shot until the 28th minute of play. Five Illini fired shots before the halftime break, putting two on goal. The two teams went back-and-forth through much of the half, but Oklahoma State took a 1-0 lead into halftime with a goal just one second before the buzzer.
"We really believe in this team and we really believe in each other," junior goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham said about the halftime break. "While we were disappointed, I think we were confident in each other that we had the momentum and we would make up for it."
The two teams traded shots to start the second half, but Breslin netted the equalizer in the 66th minute of play. She headed a pass from freshman Katelynn Buescher just out of the Cowgirl goalkeeper's reach and into the back of the net. Breslin has posted two goals this season, and the assist is the third for Buescher this year.
The Illini added two more shots on goal in the second half, but the Cowgirls weren't going away. Oklahoma State posted four more shots before the final horn, but put just one on frame. UI also put two shots on goal before Veland recorded the game-winning goal. Her first of the season, Veland capitalized on a loose ball in the box and sent it right into the upper 90.
Cunningham grabbed OSU's final shot on goal in the last minute of play to keep the Orange and Blue in the lead. She finished with four saves on the night.
The Illini tallied 14 shots and put six on goal, also forcing 12 corner kicks in the contest.
NEXT UP
The Illini are back in action on Sunday, hosting the SIUE Cougars at 1 p.m. Stick around after the match as the squad will sign autographs on the track. It will be another Family Sunday at Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium, this time featuring a face painter before kickoff.
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Fans can keep up with the Fighting Illini Soccer squad on social media for an even more inside look at the program. Follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
