CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A fine fall evening in Champaign saw Illinois' largest crowd of the season pack into Demirjian Park as the team battled for 110 minutes for a thrilling 1-1 draw with Wisconsin.
Illinois (5-7-1, 1-4-1 B1G) was led by redshirt junior Kendra Pasquale, who scored the lone goal in the sixth minute of the match. Senior Hope Breslin tallied nine shots (two on-goal) and freshman goalkeeper Julia Cili recorded four saves. Wisconsin (7-3-4, 2-2-2 B1G) was led by Cameron Murtha's one goal and goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer's six saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Wisconsin began the match firing on offense, with a quick chance just 34 seconds into the match that was saved by Julia Cili. The Badgers went on to earn two corner kicks in the fourth minute, which the Illini were able to defend away and keep Wisconsin off the board.
Illinois was quick to respond to the early Badger chances, as they crossed into their attacking third in the sixth minute. Hope Breslin had a shot that was blocked by a Badger defender, but the ball rebounded directly to Pasquale who took a one-time laser off her left foot into the top right of the net to put the Illini up 1-0 early in the match.
Wisconsin responded with two chances of their own. with Cili grabbing a save on one attempt and the Illini defense forcing a second shot wide of the net. Illinois turned to the offensive after two Badger chances, with Breslin narrowly missing a shot attempt above the net and Illinois missing on a corner kick attempt in the same minute.
The two teams traded chances after the first Illini corner kick, but Wisconsin was able to break through for the equalizer in the 23rd minute when a cross from Wisconsin's Natalie Viggiano was headed into the back of the net by Murtha to tie the game, 1-1.
The Badgers continued to push offensively looking for the go-ahead goal, but Cili made a save on a Badger shot attempt and the Illini defense was able to push another Wisconsin chance wide of the net, keeping the teams knotted up with 15 to go in the first period.
The Illini were presented with a few chances in the waning minutes of the first period, earning two corner kicks and spending considerable time in their attacking third. Eileen Murphy had a shot blocked and the chances didn't materialize into a goal, as the two teams headed to the locker room with a goal a piece.
The teams traded chances early in the second half, with Illinois' Breslin, Pasquale, and Maeve Jones all pushing their chances wide of the net, and Wisconsin missing on two chances that were defended well by the Illini.
With 15 to go in regulation, each team began ramping up their attacks looking for a potential game-winner. Illinois had two looks in a row that were blocked and saved by the Wisconsin keeper, and later saw Murphy take a great look off of a corner kick, heading the ball toward the goal where Wisconsin's keeper was able to dive and punch the ball away for a save.
The Badgers saw limited chances in the final minutes of regulation, but found a chance in the 85th minute that was beautifully saved by Cili. A chance in the same minute by Sydney Stephens was grabbed by the Wisconsin keeper, proving to be Illinois' final scoring opportunity in regulation as the teams headed into overtime.
In the first overtime period, Illinois was able to limit the Badgers to just one chance, a corner kick opportunity that was cleared by the Illini backline. The Orange and Blue were aggressive in their attack in the first overtime period, controlling the ball in their attacking half for the majority of the period and narrowly missing on a chance by Breslin.
With less than five seconds to go in the first overtime period, freshman Angie Galo served a deep pass to Breslin which led to the redshirt senior breaking through the Wisconsin defenders before lobbing a shot that was barely tipped by the Wisconsin keeper. The ball found the back of the net, but the potential game-winner for Illinois was reviewed and ruled a no-goal after the ball failed to cross the goal line before time expired.
The Illini didn't stop their aggressive offense in the second overtime period, earning three corner kicks in a row in the first two minutes of the period. On the third corner kick for the Illini, Murphy, once again, headed the ball towards the middle of the goal, but it was grabbed by Wisconsin's keeper, and another chance at the game-winner was cleared away.
Wisconsin responded with four chances of their own after the early Illinois attempts, all of which were negated by the Illini defense who was able to push the ball away from the net to keep the Badgers from a golden goal.
Illinois looked for a final chance at scoring the golden goal in the final 45 seconds of the match, as Pasquale fought past two Wisconsin defenders and crossed the ball over to an open Breslin, but her shot was pushed just wide left of the net. The two teams traded possession in the final seconds of the match, but walked away from the match with a point in the standings as the contest finished with a 1-1 draw.
QUOTING COACH RAYFIELD
"I was really proud of our team tonight. They made the adjustments at half time and fought hard and together for 110 minutes. Even after thinking they had won the game only to have to play another 10 minutes they stayed the course and again created quality chances. Tonight was the Illini identity we have been building and striving for all season. I am gutted for them about the result but excited about who this team is becoming."Â
ILLINOIS NOTES
- The Illini move to 5-7-1 (1-4-1 B1G) in the draw vs. Wisconsin.
- Illinois saw a season-high mark in attendance with 963 Illini fans at Demirjian Park for Friday evening's match.
- The 1-1 result marks the 39th draw in program history, and the first for the Illini since a 0-0 draw at Minnesota last season (3/6/21).
- Redshirt junior Kendra Pasquale's sixth-minute goal marked her fourth of the season, and the 11th of her Illini career.
- Pasquale also logged 106 minutes in the contest, matching her career-high total set earlier this season at Michigan (9/17/21).Â
- Illinois earned 11 corner kicks vs. Wisconsin, the Illini's second-consecutive match in double-figures after recording a season-high 14 corners in the last outing vs. Maryland.
- Redshirt senior Hope Breslin tallied a season-high nine shots vs. the Badgers, eclipsing her previous season-high total of seven set at Illinois State (8/22/21) and matched at Toledo (9/21/21).
- Sophomore goalkeeper Julia Cili made her first-career start in net for the Illini and played all 110 minutes, a career-high, with four saves.
- Redshirt junior Ashley Cathro recorded the 10th consecutive match in which she played the full time. It also marked the third time in her Illini career that she played all 110 minutes of a double-overtime match.
- Juniors Eileen Murphy, and Aleah Treiterer, and freshman Angie Galo joined Cathro in playing all 110 minutes of Friday night's match. It tied a career-high mark for both Murphy and Treiterer (at Minnesota, 3/6/21), and set a new personal-best for Galo.
- Murphy also recorded three shots, establishing a season-high total and tying her career-high mark for the fourth time as an Illini.Â
- Freshman Sydney Stephens recorded career-highs in both shots on goal (2) and minutes (102) on Friday.
- Freshman Maeve Jones logged a career-most 98 minutes vs. the Badgers.
UP NEXT
The Illini hit the road for their final road trip of the regular season next week. Illinois opens the week on national television on Thursday, Oct. 14, taking on Minnesota on the Big Ten Network for an 8 p.m. CT kick. The Orange and Blue then travel to Iowa City, Iowa to take on Iowa on Sunday, Oct. 17 for a 1 p.m. CT kickoff on B1G+.
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