MALIBU, California – Fighting Illini Soccer earned its first road victory over the season, defeating the 22nd-ranked Pepperdine Waves on Friday evening. The two teams fought from start to finish, trading goals throughout the match. Goals from senior Arianna Veland and redshirt freshman Kendra Pasquale kept the battle tied until junior Maggie Hillman secured the game winning goal in the 82nd minute of play. Illinois improves to 3-0-0 on the season and will take on San Francisco in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.
"This was a gritty win for us today," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "To be down twice and battle back on the road against a very talented Pepperdine team takes relentless effort, and we had that today. We will still learn a lot from this game and work to be better again on Sunday. We're still a work in progress and are focusing on the daily process of getting better."
Illinois was strong on defense to start the game as the Waves went immediately on the attack. Pepperdine fired a shot in the fifth minute of play, looking to control the game early on. Illinois stayed strong on defense, and turned the attack around in Malibu. Pasquale posted UI's first shot in the 19th minute, sending a ball over the top right corner of the Pepperdine net. The Waves continued to push back, taking a lead in the game with a goal in the 24th> minute, but Illinois responded before the halftime break.
After a Hope Breslin corner kick, Veland took control of a ball in the far corner of the box, sending it over the Pepperdine goalkeeper into the back corner of the net. The game was tied, 1-1, at the halftime break. The Orange and Blue tallied three first half shots as Breslin also contributed to Illinois' attack. Senior goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham grabbed two saves before the break as the Waves put three shots on goal early in the match.
The Waves once again came out swinging after the halftime break, pulling back into the lead in the 50th minute. It didn't last long, however, as Pasquale tied things back up in the 59th minute. Pasquale fired a shot from just outside the box that hit the crossbar and crossed over the goal line.
Illinois and Pepperdine continued to battle throughout the midfield, trading possession and battling for the next score. Sophomore Makena Silber added a shot for Illinois in the 70th minute, and the Orange and Blue defense held Pepperdine without a shot until the 82nd minute of play.
The Orange and Blue took back the advantage in the 82nd minute, as Hillman netted the game-winner. Hillman took advantage of a blocked ball from the Pepperdine goalkeeper, and rolled it past her and into the net.
Both teams continued to battle to the finish as Silber added another shot for Illinois before the final whistle. Illinois finished with seven shots in the match, putting three on goal. Cunningham closed play with three total saves. The Waves put five of their eight total shots on goal overall.
NEXT UP
Illinois will continue its four-game road stretch in Los Angeles on Sunday. The Orange and Blue are set to face San Francisco at 6 p.m. at Sullivan Field
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