CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois soccer overcame a 0-2 halftime deficit to draw with Minnesota (8-7-3, 4-4-2), 2-2, on Sunday at Demirjian Park in the 2022 season finale.
The Orange and Blue finish the campaign at an overall record of 7-7-4 and went 2-5-3 in Big Ten play.
Despite the sunny skies and warm temperatures, a constant south to north wind with gusts up t0 36 miles per hour created difficult playing conditions for the side attacking the south goal. Illinois would elect to defend the north goal in the first half and play into the wind for the opening 45 minutes.
Neither team was able to carve out any chances during the opening 10 minutes of play as the players were adjusting to the conditions. It was Minnesota that would nearly get on the board first in the contest in the 14th minute, when the Gophers McKenna Buisman was played through on goal following a giveaway, but Illini keeper Julia Cili made a great kick save to keep the match scoreless.
The Gophers would capitalize on their early pressure in the 20th minute, when Sophia Boman drove her corner kick toward goal and it found its way through a sea of blue and into the back of the net, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Illinois would get their first attempt of the match in the 21st minute, when Ashley Cathro latched onto a loose ball in Minnesota penalty area, but her effort sailed over the bar.
Minnesota would double their advantage in the 22nd minute when Megan Gray won the ball in Illinois’ defensive third and the ball would eventually be played to Sadie Harper, who found a way past Cili with the outside of her right foot to make it 2-0. The Gophers would take that score line into the break.
With the wind literally at their backs, the Illini were on the front foot from the restart. Makala Woods provided some early energy coming on at halftime and was a constant threat down the left wing, whipping in a few dangerous crosses that needed to be dealt with. While the home side did not create any big chances during the opening 13 minutes of the second half, they looked the more dangerous of the two teams. Freshmen Lia Howard and Sarah Foley would both come on in the 59th minute and the duo would eventually spark Illinois’ comeback quest.
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