Home CollegeIllini Illini Drop Match to No. 8 Northwestern

Illini Drop Match to No. 8 Northwestern

by Connor Tomko

Illinois fell to No. 8 Northwestern, 4-0, at Demirjian Park on Sunday.

The Orange and Blue move to 6-5-2 on the season and are now 1-3-1 in Big Ten play this season.

The Illini nearly struck first in the match in the 11th minute, when Eileen Murphy found Julia Eichenbaum in space down the left wing, who dribbled into the box and had her shot tipped over the bar by Northwestern’s Mia Raben. On the ensuing corner, the ball fell to Maeve Jones but her shot was cleared off of the line.

Eichenbaum came close again to breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute, when she forced a Northwestern turnover in their defensive third, but her effort deflected off of the post. She was first to the rebound, but her follow-up was deflected out for a corner.

Despite the early threats from the Illini, it was the Wildcats that would score the first goal of the contest. In the 33rd minute, Sarah Foley conceded a penalty and Rowan Lapi converted from the spot, slotting the ball past Julia Cili.

Northwestern nearly doubled their lead in the 47th minute through Caterina Regazzoni, but Kennedy Bershcel was alert defensively and headed the ball off of the line to keep the match within reach.

The Wildcats earned their second penalty of the game in the 57th minute but Cili was up to task, earning her first-career penalty save. Just 20 seconds after the penalty however, the visitors doubled their lead when Danika Austin rifled a shot from outside the box into the top corner.

The Wildcats made it 3-0 in the in the 66th minute through a header from Josie Aulicino, who then later doubled her tally in the 72nd minute to make it 4-0 with Northwestern’s third penalty of the match.

Next Up

The Illini make the short trip to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CT.

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