LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fighting Illini soccer began their two-match swing to the Bluegrass State with a 2-1 victory over Louisville at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium on Thursday night.
The Orange and Blue now move to 3-0-1 on the season and have started a campaign four matches unbeaten for the first time since 2015. It is also the first time the Illini have gone four matches unbeaten since 2019.
Illinois got off to a good start to the contest by winning a corner in the third minute, which led to an early chance for Makena Silber, but her shot was blocked.
The early pressure would pay off for the Illini in the 11th minute, when Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal intercepted an attempted clearance and the ball fell into the Louisville penalty area. Silber was quickest to react to the loose ball and squared it to the back post for Sydney Stephens to slot home to make it 1-0.
The Illinois defense did well to keep Louisville from getting back into the game, holding the Cardinals to just one shot on goal through the first 30 minutes, needing keeper Julia Cili to make just one save.
The Illini would carry the 1-0 lead into the break, the third time this season they have taken a lead into halftime.
It was the Cardinals that came out of the locker room on the front foot to begin the second half and looked to have found an equalizer in the 55th minute, but Ashley Stellon and Kennedy Berschel combined for a pair of goal-line clearances to keep the match level.
Just four minutes later, the Orange and Blue doubled their lead after some hard work from Makala Woods and Lia Howard. Woods made a couple of tackles to win, and keep, the ball and played Howard in on goal, who fought around a shielding defender to slot the ball underneath the onrushing Cardinal keeper into the net for her second goal of the season.
Sarah Foley almost scored a spectacular third for the Illini in the 60th minute, when she was picked out at the back post on a cross from Woods, but her volleyed effort was just tipped over the bar. Illinois continued their spell of pressure until the 71st minute, when Stephens nearly doubled her tally with a header from a free kick, but the Louisville keeper made an excellent last-second save to deny the Waterloo, Ill., native.
The hosts would not go away quietly, however, pulling a goal back in the 83rd minute, setting up a frantic finish, but the Illinois defense was able to see out the match and earn the team's third win of the season.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Sunday, Sept. 3, as they continue this five-match road trip with a match at Kentucky. Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. CT.
