After a 2002 season that saw many struggles and growing pains for the Illini women's soccer team, the 2003 campaign has been one of the most successful in team history.

That success continued this weekend as the Illini won both of their games defeating Big Ten rival Northwestern and non-conference opponent Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The Illini clinched their best conference finish and conference record ever as they finished second in the Big Ten with a 7-1-2 record.

"There's a real positive in that this program just took a huge step forward in terms of our performance in the Big Ten," Rayfield said. "That says a lot about what these kids did between last fall and now. It's a real tribute that they've been able to say we're gonna do this different."

The Illini exploded for four goals on Friday night, shutting out Northwestern 4-0 and spoiling the Wildcats' chances of reaching the Big Ten tournament.

After missing several scoring opportunities in the first half, the Illini came out firing in the second. They took a 1-0 lead early in the second half as junior forward Andrea Ridgeway took advantage of a Northwestern turnover and put it past Wildcats' goalie Whitney Jones.

"They misplayed the ball so I was pretty fortunate," Ridgeway said. "I was in a good spot and I was able to place the ball."

Junior Tara Hurless continued her torrid scoring pace netting her 10th and 11th goals of the season in the second half.

"I wouldn't be able to get the ball and the chances if it weren't for the rest of the team," Hurless said. "We're having a great movement and great communication."

Freshman Eva Strickland added her first goal of the season for the Illini versus the Wildcats.

Illini head coach Janet Rayfield felt this was the kind of game her team needed to play the rest of the season.

"From start to finish we played the type of soccer we know we're capable of playing," Rayfield said. "In the first 10 minutes, when we were knocking the ball around and they didn't really get a touch, it completely took the wind out of their sails."

The Illini continued their successful weekend on Sunday by defeating the UW-GB 2-0.

The Illini dominated the whole game, as they outshot the Phoenix 22-4.

The Illini goals came from leading scorer Hurless and freshman defender Sarah Brown, who netted her first goal as a member of the Illini.

"I felt like I read the ball more," Brown said, referring to previous chances during the season. "I thought the goaltender was going to catch, but it went right over her head."

Junior goalie Leisha Alcia posted her second shutout in a row and her eighth of the season.

Despite the victory, Rayfield sees adjustments that need to be made.

"It was one of those games that they came in and were going to defend with a lot of numbers, so it makes it difficult to score goals," Rayfield said. "It was a good game for us because it was different."