CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois soccer (2-0-0) secured a 2-1 win over DePaul (0-1-1) on senior day thanks to a late 83rd minute winner from Lia Howard.
Ashley Stellon opened the scoring in the 44th minute from the penalty spot to open her account on the season.
The Orange and Blue have now won their first two games of the season for the fifth-straight campaign.
The Illini started the match on the front foot, nearly going ahead in the 13th minute, but Maddie Mariani's shot from close range was saved.
Illinois was denied an opener by the crossbar twice in quick succession, first from Sarah Hiestand's strike from distance the 24th minute followed by Alyssa Weede's effort that rattled the bar in the 27th minute.
Howard nearly found the breakthrough in the 40th minute, less than five minutes into her season debut, but her shot was saved well at the last moment by the DePaul keeper.
More sustained pressure from the Illini led to consecutive corner kicks late in the half, where Hiestand this time was denied by the post after she rose highest to meet Ella Karolak's corner in the 41st minute.
The contest looked destined to head to the break scoreless, but Lindsey DuSatko intercepted an errant clearance from the Blue Demon goalkeeper and found Howard in space at the edge of DePaul penalty area. The Massapequa, N.Y., native, played Stellon through on goal, where she was brought down, drawing the penalty. Stellon stepped up smashed the spot kick into top-left corner of the goal to give U of I the 1-0 lead in the 44th minute.
At halftime, Illinois held an 8-4 advantage in shots, with both keepers making two saves a piece.
I was a hard-fought 15 minutes to begin the second half, with neither side having a sight at goal.
The Illini were denied by the woodwork for the fourth time in the match when Regan Moody struck the post from close range in the 63rd minute after her shot had the keeper beat.
In the 69th minute, the Blue Demons won a free kick on the right side of the penalty area and would convert on a well-worked set-piece routine to level the match at 1-1.
Illinois began pressing for winner, gaining firm control of the match and forcing DePaul to defend a series of attacking moves.
In the 83rd minute, Sydney Stephens looped a ball over the top for Howard, where the junior held off several defenders and created space for a shot, which struck the inside of the goalpost and into the back of the net, putting the Illini ahead, 2-1.
The Orange and Blue were able to see out the final seven minutes of the match, not allowing the Blue Demons to attempt a shot.
Illinois continues this five-match homestand on Thursday for a Braggin' Rights showdown vs. Missouri. Kickoff from Demirjian Park is set for 7 p.m. CT.
