IOWA CITY, Iowa – Fighting Illini soccer opened up their Big Ten slate with a 1-1 draw with Iowa at the Iowa Soccer Complex on Sunday.
The Orange and Blue now move to 4-2-2Â on the season following draw. It's the first points earned by Illinois at Iowa since 2016.
It was a defensive battle early in the contest, with neither side able to test the keepers through the first 25 minutes of action.
Julia Cili made an important save in the 27th minute, tipping a long-range effort over the bar, just one of nine saves the Palmetto Bay, Fla., native would make in the contest.
It proved to be a decisive save just four minutes later when Makena Silber latched onto an errant back pass from a Hawkeye defender, rounded the Iowa keeper and rolled the ball into the empty net to give Illinois the 1-0 lead. Silber's 21st goal of her Illini career was the first goal scored on Iowa in 398:32 minutes of play.
The Illini would take their one-goal advantage into the break, with Cili making a total of three saves in the opening 45.
Illinois remained in control to begin the second half, nearly doubling their lead in the 58th minute when Kennedy Berschel hit a low, curling effort that seemed destined for the bottom corner, but it was saved.
Cili would make a series of comfortable saves as the second half went on, making her most important one in the 76th minute, snatching a shot from distance that was headed into the top corner.
The Illini came close to sealing a win late when both Makala Woods and Lia Howard had chances in the 82nd and 83 minutes, respectively, but the duo hit their efforts right at the keeper.
In the 84th minute, Cili would make a great reaction save from close range but the ball would eventually fall to the Hawkeyes outside of the area, and a cross from the right wing found a free attacker on the back post for a tap-in to bring the match level.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Thursday, Sept. 21, for their Big Ten home opener vs. Indiana at Demirjian Park. Kickoff is slated for 7:00Â p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
