Box Score MADISON, Wis. -- Illinois soccer (4-3-2, 0-1-1) earned its first point in Big Ten playing by earning a 2-2 draw at Wisconsin (4-2-2, 0-1-1) tonight at McClimon Soccer Complex.
Sarah Foley netted her second brace of the season and keeper Izzy Lee matched her career high with nine saves, but it was not enough as the Illini let a 2-0 lead slip late.
It was end-to-end action to begin the match, with both sides coming close to finding the opening goal of the contest. Kennedy Berschel curled one just wide for Illinois in the first minute, with Wisconsin also going close just a minute later.
The Badgers struck the post in the in the fourth minute, followed by the Illini going down the pitch, leading to a chance for Ashley Stellon, which was fired just over the bar.
Goalkeeper Izzy Lee made her first save of the night in the 12th minute, a fairly routine one, after a shot was fired straight at her from the edge of the area.
In the 14th minute, some high pressure from Emma Yee on the ball forced a misplaced pass from a Wisconsin defender, which Foley was first to, and the junior curled her shot around the keeper and into the bottom right corner of the net to give Illinois the 1-0.
In the 18th minute, the Badgers won a penalty after an attacker was brought down in the box, but Lee dramatically saved the penalty, diving low to her left to stop the well-hit shot.
After a frantic opening 20 minutes of action, neither side was able to create any clear-cut chances for the remainder of the half, with Lee making three more saves along the way, sending the Orange and Blue into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The hosts started out on the front foot to begin the second, winning a pair of corner kicks that Illinois was able to repel.
Soaking up the early pressure proved to be vital, when in the 58th minute, Foley got the deftest of touches on Lauren Seppi's headed pass into the penalty area to steer the ball past the Badger keeper and into the net, making it a 2-0 contest. Foley's seven goals this season are the most by an Illini in a single season since Hope Breslin also scored seven times in 2021.
Just four minutes later, however, Wisconsin would grab a goal back in the 62nd minute, when a low-driven shot was fired past Lee at her near post.
Bolstered by the goal, the Badgers began pressing for an equalizer, but Lee was equal to the task, making three saves over the next half hour to maintain Illinois' slim lead.
Wisconsin would find the tying the goal in the 85th minute, leading to the 2-2 draw.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Sunday, when they welcome No. 18 Iowa to Demirjian Park. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT.
