By: The Lady Blues and Panthers went 110 scoreless minutes on Tuesday night in IC’s final non-conference match.
Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Unexpected rains came into play on Tuesday night as the Illinois College women's soccer team played to a 0-0 draw with Greenville College at England Stadium in the last non-conference tune-up of the 2015 season for the Lady Blues. On a slippery field and with both defenses in mid-season form, scoring chances were few and far between.
Illinois College struggled in the first half to gain a foothold in the match, too often dropping deep in defense and failing to link up with its attacking players to relieve the pressure at the back. Fortunately, the back line was solid throughout and goalkeeper
Cat Solberg was there for anything that got past them. Greenville had five of its eight corners in the first half, but the Lady Blues held firm and kept the tie intact as the first half ended.
While the Lady Blues didn't attempt a single shot on goal in the second half, they appeared much more likely to score than they did in the first half as counterattacks presented themselves against an attacking Greenville team. Illinois College was able to find the most success with through balls played ahead for
Ashley Sholmire, but the final touch on all of the IC chances were lacking and a breakthrough never came.
The match might have ended in regulation if not for an alert play from freshman
Alex Wilson. With the match in the 81st minute, another Greenville corner kick went to the far post where Jen Brakenhoff made solid contact on a header. Wilson was positioned on the post though, and her quick reactions cleared the ball off the line before it could cross.
Solberg made three more saves in the two overtime sessions, ending with eight for the match and securing the tie for the Lady Blues. Illinois College had six shots in the match as a team, with
Jessica Martinez accounting for two.
Now 3-5-2 (0-1-1 Midwest Conference), the Lady Blues return to MWC play at home this weekend. IC will play Lawrence University on Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. and wrap up the weekend against St. Norbert College at 11 a.m. on Oct. 4.
