CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois soccer (3-1-1) saw its four-match unbeaten run to begin the season come to an end with a 2-1 defeat to Kentucky (5-0-0) today at Demirjian Park.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the 29th minute and then doubled their lead on an own goal in the 54th minute.
Sarah Foley pulled one back for the Illini in the 61st minute but the Orange and Blue could not find the equalize in the final half hour of the match.
Offense was tough to come by in the opening 20 minutes of the contest, as both sides refused to yield ground in the midfield.
Kentucky had the first sight at goal in the 20th minute when an attacker looked to be through on goal, but Izzy Lee was quick of her line to make a save near the edge of the area to repel the attack.
In the 29th minute, the Wildcats opened the scoring on a quick counter attack and the Illini found themselves trailing in a match for the first time this season.
Illinois’ best chance of the opening 45 came in the 32nd minute, when Ella Karolak picked out Mia Gildea from a corner kick but Gildea turned her header wide of the post.
The Fighting Illini would go into the break holding a 5-3 advantage in total shots and had a 3-1 edge in corners.
Kentucky nearly doubled their lead in the 52nd minute on a shot from distance but Lee made a spectacular diving save at full stretch to keep Illinois within a goal.
Two minutes later, however, the Wildcats extended the lead on an own goal to make it…
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