Oct. 25, 2008
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Despite an hour long delay due to inclement weather, the No. 21 Penn State women's soccer team continued its run toward an 11th Big Ten Championship Friday evening with a 2-0 victory over the Fighting Illini. The No. 21 Nittany Lions are now 12-6 overall and 7-1 in conference play while the Illini fall to 9-8 (3-5). Scoring for Penn State was freshman Jess Rosenbluth (Gladwyne, Pa.) and Alli Rago (Fairfield, Conn.).
The Illinii kept with the trend of the rest of the Big Ten as Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) often found herself surrounded by two or three defenders. Toney worked her way around the defense putting pressure on the goal with two shots in three seconds which Illini keeper Alexandra Kapicka and the rest of the defense scrambled to save. A Nittany Lion foul temporarily allowed Illinois to regain control, and the defense and goalkeeper Krissy Tribbett (Centennial, Colo.) worked through six shots to keep the game scoreless. Once the PSU backline sent the ball forward, the Nittany Lions maintained control through the remainder of the half and carried the momentum into the second stanza.
Early in the second half, Megan Monroig (Northumberland, Pa.) used her speed to beat the defender and fired a long, deep cross that dropped just beyond the post. Rosenbluth then settled the pass and sent the ball above Kapicka's hands in the 56th minute.
With under a minute left to play Rago found herself with the ball just past midfield and powered down the field past the Illinois back line. When she was one-on-one with the keeper, she sent a rocket above her outstretched arms and found the back of the net for the insurance goal bringing the score to 2-0.
"This was a total team effort," said head coach Erica Walsh. "Our performance tonight was better than it has been all season. I am very proud of everyone's effort in such hostile territory."
Throughout the match Penn State fired 16 shots to 14 by Illinois. The Nittany Lions were awarded seven corner kicks while the Illini were awarded two of their own. Penn State kept the game physical committing 15 fouls while Illinois accumulated 10. Kapicka collected six saved while Tribbett earned the shutout with two.
Penn State will face Purdue Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET) in an effort to seal its 11th consecutive Big Ten Championship. Fans can follow the action live at purduesports.cstv.com.