By: Illinois College enjoyed a 16-7 edge in shots and used two Ally Kjellander goals to put away the Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
Box Score
ELSAH, Ill. – The Illinois College women's soccer team won their second straight match to open up 2016 with a 3-1 defeat of Principia College on Saturday afternoon.
Ally Kjellander scored the opening two goals in the first half and
Ashley Sholmire put the match away with a 58th minute strike to seal the victory.
The Lady Blues were on the offensive right from the start as Sholmire had a pair of shot attempts in the opening minutes, before
Meadow Hardy and Kjellander forced saves from Libby Lewis to keep the match scoreless. It wouldn't remain that way for long. Kjellander notched the opener in the 11th minute as Sholmire tracked the ball down near the end-line worked free past a defender and found her standing near the six-yard box to tap it home.
In the 27th minute, Kjellander doubled the IC lead as a through ball from
Mackenzie Bedgood freed her going up the middle of the field and she finished nicely past Lewis to make it 2-0. Principia would bring it back to a one-goal game in the 38th minute when Rachel Perea slotted home past
Samantha Vacek.
Illinois College built its lead back to two goals in the 58th minute when a pass from Bedgood made it through the teeth of the Principia defense to the feet of Sholmire for the junior to tuck away. The defense and Vacek would combine to handle things from there. Vacek ended with three saves to earn her second victory of the season in goal.
Sholmire ended with a match-high five shots, while Kjellander had four shots.
Kaylen Sims ended with three shots in the match and also assisted on the Sholmire goal.
Illinois College (2-0-0) will make its home debut on Sept. 7, taking on Fontbonne University at England Stadium at 7 p.m. following the conclusion of the men's match with Fontbonne.
