CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois soccer (2-0-0) secured a 2-1 win over DePaul (0-1-1) on senior day thanks to a late 83rd minute winner from Lia Howard.
Ashley Stellon opened the scoring in the 44th minute from the penalty spot to open her account on the season.
The Orange and Blue have now won their first two games of the season for the fifth-straight campaign.
The Illini started the match on the front foot, nearly going ahead in the 13th minute, but Maddie Mariani’s shot from close range was saved.
Illinois was denied an opener by the crossbar twice in quick succession, first from Sarah Hiestand’s strike from distance the 24th minute followed by Alyssa Weede’s effort that rattled the bar in the 27th minute.
Howard nearly found the breakthrough in the 40th minute, less than five minutes into her season debut, but her shot was saved well at the last moment by the DePaul keeper.
More sustained pressure from the Illini led to consecutive corner kicks late in the half, where Hiestand this time was denied by the post after she rose highest to meet Ella Karolak’s corner in the 41st minute.
The contest looked destined to head to the break scoreless, but Lindsey DuSatko intercepted an errant clearance from the Blue Demon goalkeeper and found Howard in space at the…
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