EVANSTON, Ill. – Fighting Illini soccer captured a hard-earned point in a scoreless draw at Northwestern on Thursday night at Martin Stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan.
The Orange and Blue now move to 5-3-3 on the season following the tie and have now drawn both road matches in Big Ten play this season. It's the first points won by the Illini in Evanston since April 3, 2021.
Illinois had the first opportunity in the match to open the scoring in the ninth minute, with some neat interplay between Lia Howard, Sydney Stephens and Makala Woods, who played a perfectly weighted ball to Bel Rolley through on the Wildcat goal. Rolley struck her shot first time, but it went just wide of the post.
The Illini defense did well to keep the hosts from putting a shot on goal until the 24th minute when a Northwestern attacker had a one-on-one chance against Julia Cili, who made a great save to keep the match scoreless. The senior would make another save four minutes later, reading a curling effort well to make a comfortable stop.
Just before halftime, Illinois had a set-piece opportunity in the Northwestern half and Ellen Persson found Mya Archibald in the area, but the latter's headed effort was caught by the Wildcat keeper.
The two sides would go into the break scoreless, with the Wildcats holding a 9-2 advantage in total shots, but the Illini defense allowed just two on frame.
Out of halftime, Illinois had the first goal-scoring chance of the second half in the 47th minute, with Archibald making a mazy run down the right wing and cutting across the area for a look on net. The freshman, however, could only hit her shot right at the keeper.
Just moments later in the 48th minute, Cili was called upon again to make a decisive save and Ella Karolak made an important block on a follow-up attempt with the net empty.
Cili would make her fourth and final save of the match in the 60th minute, rushing out to meet a Wildcat attacker that was alone in space in the area.
Despite Northwestern holding the advantage in possession, the Illinois defense would not allow another shot on target for the final half an hour of the contest, making four blocks in the process.
Illinois nearly took home all three points in the 83rd minute when Sarah Hiestand brilliantly put through Woods on goal, put her first touch was slightly too heavy, allowing the Northwestern keeper to claim. Howard nearly found the back of the net with 30 seconds to go, but she shot was tipped around the post.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Sunday, Oct. 1, to take on Ohio State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 11:00 a.m. CT.
