CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois soccer (1-0-0) turned in a complete team performance to earn an emphatic 6-0 victory over Wright State (0-1-0) in the 2024 season opener on Thursday night at Demirjian Park.
Six different Illini turned in the goals, with Sarah Hiestand, Ellen Persson, Lauren Seppi and Alyssa Weede all opening their collegiate account. Eleven players registered either a primary or secondary assist, with 14 total players registering a point in the contest.
Illinois needed less than 10 minutes to find the breakthrough, when Ashley Stellon spotted Sarah Foley with a perfectly-weighted through-ball in the penalty area and the junior chipped her effort over the keeper and into the back of the net to make it 1-0 in the 10th minute. The Illini doubled their tally just 95 seconds later when Hiestand was first to the rebound from Mya Archibald's shot following a free kick, making it 2-0 in the 12th minute.
The Raiders nearly pulled one back in the 25th minute, but goalkeeper Izzy Lee made a fantastic save to maintain the two-goal advantage. The Western Springs, Ill., native, was called upon again in the 34th minute, where she made another great save, this time at her near post from close range.
Illinois would take the 2-0 lead into the break, holding an 11-6 advantage in shots.
The Orange and Blue wasted no time getting back on the scoresheet when Kennedy Berschel curled one into the top-left corner on the goal in the 51st minute at the edge of the area, following two great passes from Foley and Hiestand, to make it 3-0.
Weede made it 4-0 in the 63rd minute, finding the top of the net from a tight angle for her first-career Illini goal.
Seppi, making her collegiate debut, made it 5-0 in the 76th minute after being first to a loose ball in the area after a cross from Sydney Stephens, smashing it into the top-right corner of the goal.
Again, the Illini would score in quick succession, as Persson headed home Seppi's corner kick in the 77th minute, just 84 seconds later, to make it 6-0.
The hosts dominated in all aspects of the match, holding advantages in shots (24-6), shots on goal (13-3) and corners (14-3). The Illinois defense did not allow a single shot in the second half.
The Illini have now won six-straight season openers and three-straight home openers at Demirjian Park. The six goals were the most goals scored by UI in a single match since scoring eight vs. Northern Illinois on Aug. 26, 2018.
Illinois will be back in action on Sunday as they continue this five-match homestand to open the 2024 campaign. Kickoff from Demirjian Park vs. DePaul is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
