LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Fighting Illini soccer team dropped a close 0-1 decision to the Wisconsin Badgers Thursday afternoon in Loves Park, Ill.
Sophomore Eileen Murphy fired three shots and the lone shot on goal on the afternoon, with senior Hope Breslin, redshirt-sophomore Kendra Pasquale, and junior Makena Silber also adding a shot each. Senior goalkeeper Sami Sample added two saves on seven shots faced.
The Illini started the first strong with three shots in the opening 10 minutes, with two from Eileen Murphy and one from Hope Breslin. Wisconsin scored at the 14-minute mark in the first, but the Illini defense shut them down the rest of the half with two saves from Sami Sample to keep the halftime deficit at one.
After the half, the Illini kept up the lockdown defense, holding Wisconsin to just two shots in the second period. The offense couldn't get anything going against the Badgers despite a corner kick opportunity with five minutes to go in the game, and Wisconsin came away with the league win. The Illini drop to 2-2-0, while the Badgers improve to 3-1-0.
UP NEXT
The Illini are back on the road on Saturday to take on Minnesota. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 PM CT and will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.
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