CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois soccer got back in the win column on a rainy Sunday (Sept. 4) night with a 3-2 win over Indiana State (0-4-1) at Demirjian Park.
The Orange and Blue move to 4-2-0 on the season and 1-1-0 during this season-long five-match homestand.
"Winning is hard," said head coach Janet Rayfield. "You celebrate that and move on. I think after two games, especially after the (Texas) A&M game, where we battled in the second half and just didn't get the result, it was really important to come out with a result tonight."
The Illini were on the front foot from kickoff and applied constant pressure on the Sycamore defense in the first 20 minutes of the contest, getting away 11 shots, with two of those on frame.
In the 25th minute, Sydney Stephens won back the ball in midfield with a well-timed tackle and would find herself in space between the lines after receiving a pass from Julia Eichenbaum. Stephens would play through Sarah Foley on goal with a perfectly-weighted through ball, and the latter would slot her left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner to open the scoring.
It was Foley's second goal of the season and her first since Aug. 21 vs. Toledo.
After Foley's opener, play has halted due to lighting in the area and teams endured a weather delay of 1:15 before first-half play resumed.
The Illini saw out the final 20 minutes of the opening half by only allowing one total shot on goal, which was saved by Julia Cili.
Illinois wasted no time doubling their advantage in the second, this time through Kendra Pasquale. The redshirt-senior dribbled her way into space outside of the box and curled a left-footed strike into the bottom-right corner, also her second goal of the campaign.
The Illini remained well in control throughout the half, but the Sycamores halved the advantage in the 80th minute when Chole Tesny was brought down in the box by Ellen Persson. Tesny would convert the penalty, slotting it just past the out-stretched arms of Cili to set up a tense and wild finish to the match.
Just seconds following the restart, Foley whipped in a dangerous cross from the right flank that was turned into the visitor's goal by Sycamore defender Josie Bakaitis, restoring the Illini's two-goal lead.
But Indiana State would not go quietly, scoring for the second time in the match via a set piece, as Katie Yankey headed home Ella Gorie's delivery to make it a 3-2 game in the 86th minute.
The Orange and Blue were, however, able to see out the final four minutes of the match to take home a victory.
Next Up
The Illini continue this five-match homestand on Thursday, Sept. 8, with a 7 p.m. CT match against Missouri at Demirjian Park.
