Badgers suffer hard home loss to No.17 Illinois
September 26, 2008 | Women's Soccer
The Wisconsin women's soccer team lost a tough match 2-1 to No. 17 Illinois (7-3-0) Friday night in their first game of Big Ten play this season, ending their four-game home winning streak and bringing the Badgers to a 6-3-1 season record.
Five Wisconsin players had shots on goal on the game, including freshman leading scorer Laurie Nosbusch and freshmen Meghan Flannery, Erin Jacobsen and Leigh Williams. Overall, the team out-shot their competition 11-9.
The Badgers had four corner kicks in the first half alone, but were unable to capitalize right away. The Fighting Illini struck first 14 minutes in, when Illinois senior Marti Desjarlais scored on a feed from Jessica Levitt into the corner of the net for her third goal of the season.
Illinois' second goal came just over 36 minutes into the first half. Junior Jackie Santacaterina fired a shot, and Badger goalkeeper Jamie Klages made the save but lost the ball, allowing the Illini's Jessica Levitt to knock it in and bring the score to 2-0.
But Wisconsin came out strong in the second half, with their first goal fired in by junior Stephanie Krombach, her second of the season, from Krista Liskevych just 30 seconds into the period to put the Badgers on the board.
The team picked up the momentum in the second, with Klages and the Badger defense holding Illinois to two goals despite Illini corner kicks and close shots in the box. Klages had_five saves on the game, three in the second half alone. Illini goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka also had five saves.
Several scoring opportunities presented themselves in the second half to the Badgers, with a pair of shots on goal going wide by Krombach and six corner kicks, but no goals. Wisconsin out-cornered the Illini 10-3 on the game.
Big Ten play continues for Wisconsin this weekend, as the Badgers will face Purdue Sunday at 1 p.m. at McClimon Soccer Complex. For recaps, box scores and stats, visit UWBadgers.com
