LINCOLN, Neb. — Illinois soccer (4-5-2, 0-3-1) dropped its match at Nebraska (4-6-0, 1-3-0), 1-0, tonight at Hibner Stadium.
Despite a career-high matching nine saves from Illini keeper Izzy Lee, the Huskers managed to score the lone goal of the contest in the 58th off of a corner kick.
It was a quiet 20 minutes to start the match, with neither team able to carve out a shot on goal thanks to some excellent defending.
In the 23rd minute, the hosts looked to be going ahead when an attacker found themselves free on the back post after a deflection on a corner kick, but Kennedy Berschel cleared the goal-bound shot off of the line to keep it scoreless.
Lee would make three routine saves in the opening 45 minutes, but in the attacking third, the Orange and Blue could not manage to test the Husker keeper.
Illinois repelled an early flurry of Nebraska corner kicks in the second half as the Huskers pressed for a breakthrough. Lee would make two excellent diving stops in the 53rd and 58th minutes, tipping both shots over the bar.
Nebraska would eventually find the breakthrough in the 58th minute on a corner, taking a 1-0 lead.
Ashley Stellon forced a save in the 63rd minute as the Illini hunted for an equalizer, but that would be the last shot on target for the visitors in the match.
Lee would make a total of six saves in the second half, to keep the Orange and Blue in the contest all night, but Illinois was unable to find a decisive goal and ultimately fell, 1-0.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Sunday to take on Maryland. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
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