COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fighting Illini soccer closed out their five-match road trip with a 2-1 defeat to Missouri at Audrey J. Walton Stadium on Thursday night.
The Orange and Blue now move to 3-2-1 on the season following the loss, going 1-2-1 during their season-long five-match road swing.
Missouri started the game quickly forcing Illinois keeper Julia Cili into a pair of saves in the first 10 minutes of the game. The early pressure would pay off for the Tigers, who opened the scoring in the 14th minute off of a free kick.
The hosts then doubled their lead in the 25th minute, being first to a couple of 50-50 balls in the box after Cili got her hand to the initial cross in the sequence and Ella Karolak making a great last-second block on the first shot attempt.
Illinois would head into the break trailing at halftime for the second-straight match, being out-shot 10-4 through the first 45 minutes.
The Illini pushed hard to get back into the contest to begin the second half, earning two corners within the first five minutes.
Illinois would get back into the match in the 57th minute, when Makala Woods was brought down in the box, earning a penalty for the Illini. Kennedy Berschel stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly rolled the ball into the net after sending the Tiger keeper the wrong way.
After halving the deficit, the Illini continued to press hard for the equalizer, putting constant pressure on the Tiger defense. It nearly paid off in the 64th minute when Sydney Stephens played in Abby Lynch on goal with a curling through ball, but Lynch's shot was blocked at the last moment at the near post.
Illinois kept the tempo up throughout the final 15 minutes of match, playing almost exclusively in the Missouri side of the pitch. The Illini would win three corners during the final 10 minutes, with Mya Archibald coming the closest to squaring up the match in the 87th minute, but her header following a corner glanced just wide of the post.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Sunday, Sept. 10, as they return home to Demirjian Park to face Pepperdine on Senior Day. Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. CT.
