LEXINGTON, Ky. – Illinois soccer (5-0-0) defeated Kentucky (5-1-0), 2-1, on Sunday (Aug. 31) at the Bell Soccer Complex thanks to first half goals from Cayla Jackson and Ellen Persson.
It's the program's first perfect start through five games in 21 years since the 2004 squad won its first seven contests. Katie Hultin is now the second coach in program history to win her first five games in her debut campaign (Tricia Taliaferro, 1999).
This win also snapped Kentucky's 19 match home win streak, with their last loss coming on Oct. 15, 2023, to Mississippi State, 2-0. The last time Kentucky lost a home match to a non-conference opponent dates back to Sept. 22, 2019, when Central Michigan beat them 2-1 in overtime.
The Wildcats got on the board just two minutes into the contest with a shot deflecting off an Illinois defender and into the back of the net. It was the first goal the Illini have surrendered all year. The Orange and Blue didn't falter though; in the 17th minute Ashley Stellon created a turnover on an errant Kentucky pass in their defensive third. Stellon then quickly found a wide-open Jackson, who buried her shot in the lower right corner to tie the match at 1-1.
Right before halftime in the 43rd minute, Person headed in her first goal of the season on a tremendous corner kick delivery from Stellon, her second assist of the game, which ultimately became the game winner. It's Person's first-career game winner and her second career goal, while Stellon tallied her fourth and fifth career assists.
Izzy Lee's shutout streak came to an end, but she made plenty of crucial saves down the stretch to preserve the Fighting Illini's advantage. Her biggest save came in the 80th minute as a Kentucky shot from the top of the box got through untouched and was heading for the back of the net, but Lee made a fantastic diving save to her left to keep the Wildcats from tying the match.
In the 24th minute Sarah Foley nearly scored her third goal in three games when she was spotted by Ashlyn Adams in the box, but her shot was denied as well as Jackson's follow-up attempt.
Illinois was outshot 19-7, with the Wildcats also doubling them up in shots on goal, 8-4, but the Illini found a way to win, to remain undefeated.
The Orange and Blue soccer squad returns to action on Thursday (Sept. 4) with a road trip to Missouri. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.
