Champaign, Ill. – Illinois State Soccer (0-1-0, 0-0-0 in MVC) dropped its season opener to Illinois (1-0-0, 0-0) 1-0 Thursday night in Champaign after a late second-half goal. broke the scoreless tie at Demirjian Park.
In head coach Marisa Kresge‘s inaugural game for the Redbirds, Illinois State battled with in-state foe Illinois despite being out-shot 19-4 in the match. Illinois’ barrage did not break through until the 85th minute, when Ashley Prell’s rebound shot finished in the upper right corner for the go-ahead goal.
Michaela Kirschten, Sydney Smith and Sarah Ochitwa each put in strong work on the back line to help keep Illinois off the board for most of the game. Online, Audrey Brown and Daniela Grgas split time for Illinois State and combined for seven saves.
Brown got the start in her collegiate debut, making four big saves over the course of the first half. Grgas relieved Brown at halftime and made three saves, including a stop off an Illinois corner kick to keep the match scoreless in the 75th minute.
ISU put a pair of shots on frame, highlighted by an 83rd-minute shot off the woodworks from Kristiana Pappanastos.
Seven players (six freshmen) made their Illinois State debut Thursday in Champaign, including four Redbirds who cracked the starting lineup. Brown made her debut in net while the midfield trio of Katelynn Buescher, Leah Crotty and Jade Rehberger Donned the red and white for the first time. Freshmen Hillary Griffin, Kelsey McLaughlin and Sammy Cenek all made appearances off the bench.
UP NEXT
Illinois State returns to Adelaide Street Field for a 1 pm contest with Eastern Michigan to open their 2022 home slate this Sunday.