| Illini Prepare for Third Encounter With
Nittany Lions Winner Advances to Third Round
Although this is the first trip ever to the NCAA tournament for the soccer team, the Illini are getting used to seeing Penn State. Sunday's NCAA second-round game will be the third time the Nittany Lions and the Illini face off this season. During the regular season, Illinois lost to Penn State 3-0 in Pennsylvania. Sophomore All-American forward Christie Welsh leads the Nittany Lions in goals with 16 and points with 39. Welsh is second in assists with seven. Welsh looks to receive the ball from freshman forward Stephanie Smith most often. Smith leads the team in assists with 11. Smith is third in goals (6) and second in points (23). The Illinois defense will also have to keep an eye on freshman forward Heidi Drummond. Drummond has scored the second-most goals with eight and has the third-most points with 18. Penn State and Illinois were tied for second for the most productive offenses in the Big Ten. Both teams netted a total of 20 goals against conference opponents. In the standings, Penn State earned first place with a 10-0 record. Illinois won six games and lost four, which earned it fourth place and a trip to the Big Ten Tournament. In the Big Ten Tournament, Illinois met Penn State yet again. Penn State beat Minnesota 1-0 and the Illini took their first game 3-1 against Michigan State. In the semi-final match, Illinois took the lead 23 minutes into the match when All-Big Ten junior forward Emily Brown scored off an assist from second team All-Big Ten selection junior midfielder Colleen Joyce, who had received the ball from junior midfielder Hollie Schurr. Illinois led until the 80th minute of play. With only 10 minutes remaining, Penn State tied the game. In the third overtime, Penn State won. "I thought we outplayed Penn State last time. We gained a lot of confidence. There is no question we can play with them," said coach Tricia Taliaferro. |
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