Janet Rayfield Head Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Janet Rayfield Head Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois soccer faced a tough match against No. 18 Iowa, resulting in a 2-1 defeat at Demirjian Park on a rainy afternoon. Illinois now stands at 4-4-2 overall and 0-2-1 in conference play, while Iowa improves to 7-0-3 overall and 2-0-1 in the Big Ten.
The game saw no goals in the first half, with both teams displaying strong defensive efforts. Illinois goalkeeper Izzy Lee made two straightforward saves during this period.
In the second half, Iowa increased their offensive pressure. In the 56th minute, Lee made a diving stop to deny Iowa's first chance of the half. Despite her efforts, Iowa eventually scored twice within seven minutes—first breaking through in the 61st minute and then doubling their lead from a corner kick in the 69th minute.
Illinois managed to pull one back late in the game when Sarah Foley won a penalty that Lia Howard converted in the 88th minute. However, their efforts to find an equalizer fell short as they lost 2-1.
The Fighting Illini will look to bounce back when they travel to Lincoln to face Nebraska on Thursday, Sept. 26. The match is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. CT.
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