By: Illinois College managed only one shot on goal and fell despite 13 saves from Charlotte Crofton on the night.
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College women's soccer team received one its top performances in goal this season from freshman
Charlotte Crofton, but despite her 13 saves, the Lady Blues fell to Millikin University on Tuesday night by a score of 1-0. The Big Blue logged their fourth straight win, each of which has been a shutout, to improve to 8-3-1. The Lady Blues fall to 6-6-1 for the season.
Crofton was called upon early, making a pair of saves in the first seven minutes, but Illinois College began to control most of the action for a good portion of the first half. Unfortunately the Lady Blues couldn't put any shots on goal to challenge Millikin starting goalkeeper Anna Benvenuto.
Kaylen Sims had a shot blocked by a Big Blue defender and in the following minutes, both Sims and
Mackenzie Bedgood would send shots high over the bar.
Illinois College called upon Crofton again in the 26th minute for a save on Jenna Eaker, but in the 27th minute the Big Blue streamed forward and Meg Nowak scored on a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box that Crofton got a hand to but couldn't stop from trickling over the line to give Millikin the 1-0 lead. Crofton would make two more saves before the end of the first half to keep the Lady Blues within a goal.
In the second half, Millikin made a goalkeeper change and inserted Kaitlyn Garza into the match, but it take nearly 30 minutes for Illinois College to launch a shot towards goal. When the Lady Blues did, Garza didn't have much to do but turn and watch as
LeMarah Stratton had her header hit the post and bounce out of play.
Crofton had already made five saves before the Stratton header off the post and she would make two more after – many requiring immediate reactions to keep the Big Blue from adding onto their lead. Illinois College finally got a shot on goal in the 84th minute on a shot from
Ashley Sholmire but Garza collected it. Late corner kicks from
Ally Kjellander and Sholmire came up empty and Millikin held on for the win.
Illinois College returns to Midwest Conference play this weekend, facing Ripon College at England Stadium on Oct. 15 beginning at 3:30 p.m.
