Although they weren't able to get a piece of the regular season title, the Illinois women's soccer team made their presence felt in the Big Ten tournament this weekend.

The Illini captured the Big Ten Tournament title on Sunday after a 2-0 victory over the Michigan Wolverines in Madison, Wis. The victory marks the Illini's first tournament title and gives them the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournment.

"I'm just very proud and excited for this team," Illinois head coach Janet Rayfield said. "These players set goals for themselves in January and one by one they've accomplished them."

Despite finishing second in the conference to Penn State during the regular season, senior Meghan Kolze believed the Illini could prove they were the best in the conference.

"We came in knowing we were capable of playing at a high level," Kolze said. "We definitely expected to play this way."

They may have come out ahead, but Michigan put up a stuggle throughout the entire game. The game remained scoreless until junior forward Tara Hurless took a pass from Paula Faherty and beat Michigan goaltender Meghan Tuura to the far post. Hurless, who injured her knee earlier in the game, came in only a short time before her goal and left right after scoring. Despite her tremendous individual effort, Hurless said the Illini wouldn't be champions if it weren't for the entire team.

"We came in here this weekend and did what we wanted to do," Hurless said. "We're just playing so well together right now."

Freshman forward Jessica Bayne added an insurance goal only three minutes later sealing the victory for the Illini.

"It was a hard-fought, end-to-end Big Ten game like we expected," Rayfield said. "It was our third game in four days, but our players came out and showed a lot of character.

Just as it has for the entire season, the defense came to the forefront again this weekend for the Illini. With three consecutive 2-0 victories over Michigan State, Purdue and Michigan, the Illini became only the second team in Big Ten tournament history to win the title without giving up a goal. The defense proved record-setting this weekend as they posted a school record sixth consecutive shutout and 13th of the season, but Kolze says that the rest of the team should get recognition.

"It's a whole team effort," Kolze said. "It starts with our forwards playing defense. These shutouts wouldn't happen without the entire team."

Although the Illini have stressed team play this year, three members of the team garnered individual honors for their play this weekend. Hurless, Faherty, and sophomore defender Kelly Campbell were named to the all-tournament team. Hurless and Campbell were also named offensive and defensive MVP's respectively.

After a difficult 2002 season involving a young core of players surrounded by a new group of coaches, the Illini have moved their record to 16-3-2 and continue their quest toward a national title.

"I think last year was a blessing in disguise," Kolze said. "We wouldn't be in the position we are now if it wasn't for last year."

"We've had a successful season because we did struggle last year," Hurless said.

Rayfield believes her team has put themselves in a good position.

"I feel real good about where we are right now," Rayfield said. "This is just a great accomplishment for this team."

The NCAA tournament begins Friday.