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Sept. 19, 2003

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The Fighting Illini opened Big Ten Conference play Friday night with a 0-0 tie against Michigan in front of a record crowd of 1,030 fans at Illinois Soccer Stadium. The draw is the first at home in the history of the Illinois soccer program. The Illini are now 41-20-1 all-time while playing at home. UI moves to 4-2-1 on the year with the tie, while Michigan, picked to finish second in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll, is now 1-3-3 on the season.

Despite zeros showing the scoreboard, the game certainly didn't lack excitement. Both teams had several good scoring chances, but were unable to convert. Illinois' best chance came early in the second half when freshman Eva Strickland got behind the UM defense for a breakaway, but her shot from eight yards out was right at Wolverine goalkeeper Megan Tuura, who made the save.

Late in the second half, with about four and a half minutes remaining, the Illini had another good opportunity when Andrea Ridgeway's shot was blocked by an UM defender and bounced out to a wide open Jennifer Smith at the top of the box. Unfortunately for Illinois, Smith's shot would sail just over the cross bar.

Michigan's best chance came three minutes into the first sudden-victory overtime period. Wolverine junior Robyn Vince took a corner kick from the left side that Illinois keeper Leisha Alcia came out to grab. A leaping Alcia failed to come up with the ball, but after a short scrum in front of the goal with the net wide open, Illini defender Kelly Campbell was able to clear.

The Orange and Blue had one final chance in the 106th minute of the second overtime period. This time, sophomore Christen Karniski launched a shot from just outside the left edge of the penalty box, but Tuura was there to make a diving save to her left to preserve the scoreless tie.

Alcia made three saves on the evening for the Illini to earn her third consecutive shutout, dropping her goals against average to 0.58 for the season. Tuura made two saves to earn her first shutout of the season for the Wolverines. Both teams were hurt by offside infractions, as the Illini had six and UM had five on the night.

"We are trying to take the positives out of every game right now, which tonight, obviously, had to be our defensive effort," said Illinois Head Coach Janet Rayfield. "We want to continue to create the chances we created, but we need to adjust to a few things. Our frontrunners are still not adjusting to what the game gives us, so we have to be a little more sophisticated and break the defense down. But again, our defensive effort was fantastic tonight."

While the defense was solid once again, Rayfield saw some areas where the Orange and Blue can improve offensively. "There are a couple of things we could have done better on the offensive end," Rayfield said. "Our final pass in the final third wasn't great, and we kept over hitting balls to their goalkeeper. Our frontrunners have to do a better job of holding the ball so we can get numbers in the box. We are better when we can get both of our outside backs involved in the game."

Friday night's attendance of 1,030 shattered the old Illinois Soccer Stadium record of 878. The previous mark was set back in 1999, when the Illini faced Marquette in the first ever game at the soccer and track complex.

Up Next: The Illini will host the No. 20 Michigan State Spartans this Sunday at 2 p.m. It will be Dog Day at Illinois Soccer Stadium; anyone who brings his or her dog to the game will receive free admission.