JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College women's soccer team dominated play on Wednesday night, but it took 65 minutes to break down the Blackburn College defense. Once the Lady Blues did, the floodgates opened and IC tacked on two more goals in a comprehensive 3-0 victory over the Beavers. The win improves Illinois College to 1-2-0 on the season.
The first half featured a barrage of shots from the Lady Blues, but nothing to ultimately show for it. Illinois College had a 17-0 advantage in shots over Blackburn in the opening 45, but the five that were on target were all saved by Morgan Zobrist for the Beavers. Making her first career start,
Lindsey Kormelink had very little action on her half of the field in the first half, let alone in IC's defensive third.
The Lady Blues didn't start as quickly in the second half as they did to start the match, but the breakthrough finally came for IC in the 65th minute from
Katie Elmore.
Mychaela Bennett played a ball to
Olivia Dobbs on the left wing and Dobbs' cross into the box was volleyed out of the air by Elmore for the opening goal.
Shortly after Blackburn managed its first shot of the match in the 77th minute, Illinois College stormed back the other way and made it 2-0. A deflected ball came to the feet of
Chloe Kirbach and she slotted it home into the left corner past Zobrist who was guessing the other way.
The final nail in Blackburn's coffin came late. A shot from
Jenna Granda hit the post, but Zobrist couldn't corral the ricochet and Bennett was able to control it and redirect it into the open net for her first goal of the season.
Elmore led Illinois College with 11 shots in the match, Bennett had five and
Morgan Lallish added four more. Kormelink got the win, making the save on Blackburn's one shot on target.
The Lady Blues remain at home on Sept. 8, taking on North Park University at England Stadium at 6 p.m.
