MINNEAPOLIS – Fighting Illini junior Arianna Veland netted two goals against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday evening to give Illinois its first Big Ten win of the season. The Orange and Blue improve to 6-2-0 overall and 1-0-0 in Big Ten play with the victory. Next up, Illinois will take on the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison on Sunday.
"Tonight was a typical Big Ten battle on the road," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "We have been working on our restarts and that paid off tonight. We were able to get great service and good timing, and Arianna finished the job both times. But like we have done all season, we will get back to work, focus on cleaning up our passing, and get ready for the next challenge."
Veland gave the Illini a 1-0 advantage early on in the match, scoring the game-winning goal in the 13th minute of play. Illini sophomore Hope Breslin launched a corner kick into the box, which Veland netted off of a header. Her shot was the first of the game for Illinois. The goal marked the second for the Illini junior this season, while Breslin counts her third assist of the year.
Veland did not stop there, however as she added another goal for Illinois in the 54th minute, converting a cross from senior Katie Murray. Murray now has three assists on the year.
Both teams traded possessions throughout the midfield for much of the first half, and the Illini defense held strong to keep the Gophers without a goal in the opening period. Minnesota outshot the Illini 5-2 in the first half, but both teams put one shot on frame. Junior goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham grabbed one save before the break, and finished with two on the night to shut out the Gophers.
Minnesota fired the first shot after halftime, but Cunningham denied the home team, and junior Kelly Maday responded with a shot on goal for the Illini. The Orange and Blue worked to maintain possession for much of the second half, firing six shots after the halftime break. The Orange and Blue allowed Minnesota just two shots on goal in the match, but put five of their own on frame in the second half.
Freshman Makena Silber fired two shots in the match and put both on goal for Illinois, and Breslin also added a shot on goal in the match.
NEXT UP
Illinois is set to continue its Big Ten road swing at Wisconsin on Sunday. The Illini and the 22nd-ranked Badgers will kick off at noon on BTN Plus.
The Illini will be back at Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium on Thursday, September 20, hosting Ohio State at 7 p.m. The match will mark Kick Cancer Night and feature a ribbon tying tribute on a goal net. UI will then host Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 22 for the annual Soktoberfest. An annual tradition, Soktoberfest includes inflatables and a face painter for all fans, plus free food. In conjunction with the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Induction weekend, the Illini will honor 2018 inductee Tara Hurless at the game and also welcome back soccer alumni.
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