WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Illinois soccer (6-5-2, 2-3-1) captured a massive 2-1 win on the road at Purdue (6-6-1, 2-4-0) today at Folk Field.
The Illini went into the break down 1-0, but goals from Kennedy Berschel and Lia Howard in the second half earned the visitors three crucial points.
It was end-to-end action from kickoff, with Illinois keeper Izzy Lee called into action early, needing to make a huge save in a 1v1 situation in the sixth minute to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.
The Orange and Blue’s first attack of the contest came in the 12th minute when Sarah Foley was played through on goal on a swift counter, but the junior pushed her shot just wide of the post.
Another sweeping counter attack in the 19th minute led to a chance for defender Ella Karolak, who had marauded forward, but her goal-bound strike was kept out by a great save from the Boilermaker keeper.
Some sustained Illinois pressure led to three corner kicks in the 22nd-24th minutes, but the Purdue defense was able to keep the Illini off of the scoresheet.
The hosts would find the breakthrough in the 39th minute, when a well-worked move put a forward in on goal, who made no mistake in sliding the ball past Lee and into the net.
The Boilermakers would take their 1-0 lead into halftime, despite the Illini holding an advantage in shots (6-5) and narrowly trailing in corner kicks (5-6).
Illinois started the second half on the front foot, dominating possession in its attacking third.
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