Paige Clawson Assistant Athletic Trainer (Soccer) | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Paige Clawson Assistant Athletic Trainer (Soccer) | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois soccer (1-0-0) secured a decisive 6-0 victory over Wright State (0-1-0) in the 2024 season opener on Thursday night at Demirjian Park.
Six different Illini players scored, with Sarah Hiestand, Ellen Persson, Lauren Seppi, and Alyssa Weede all opening their collegiate accounts. Eleven players registered either a primary or secondary assist, with 14 total players earning points in the contest.
Illinois found the breakthrough in less than 10 minutes when Ashley Stellon assisted Sarah Foley with a through-ball in the penalty area. Foley chipped her effort over the keeper to make it 1-0 in the 10th minute. The Illini doubled their tally just 95 seconds later when Hiestand was first to rebound from Mya Archibald's shot following a free kick, making it 2-0 in the 12th minute.
The Raiders nearly scored in the 25th minute, but goalkeeper Izzy Lee made a save to maintain the two-goal advantage. Lee was called upon again in the 34th minute and made another save at her near post from close range.
Illinois took a 2-0 lead into halftime, holding an 11-6 advantage in shots.
In the second half, Kennedy Berschel curled one into the top-left corner of the goal in the 51st minute after receiving passes from Foley and Hiestand, making it 3-0. Weede extended the lead to 4-0 in the 63rd minute with her first career Illini goal from a tight angle.
Seppi marked her collegiate debut by scoring in the 76th minute after being first to a loose ball from Sydney Stephens' cross, making it 5-0. Persson then headed home Seppi's corner kick just 84 seconds later to finalize the score at 6-0.
The Illini dominated 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 any shots in the second half.
The team has now won six straight season openers and three straight home openers at Demirjian Park. The six goals were their most since scoring eight against Northern Illinois on Aug. 26, 2018.
Illinois will continue their five-match homestand on Sunday against DePaul at Demirjian Park with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
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