Editor’s note: The Daily Illini sports desk sits down Sunday nights and decides which Illinois athlete or coach is our Illini of the Week. Athletes and coaches are evaluated by individual performance and contribution to team success. 

In the biggest game of its season, the Illinois soccer team was hindered by its defense. A week later, with a chance at redemption they thought they might not get, the Illini rode their defense, and their freshman goalkeeper, to victory.

A 13-save performance against No. 21 Washington State in the first round of the NCAA tournament have accolades rolling in for goalkeeper Claire Wheatley. Wheatley’s 11 saves in regulation, complemented by two more in a penalty shootout, were a career high for the freshman. The career game saw her named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week and named TDS’ Player of the Week.

Wheatley started this year as one of three options for Illinois’ starting goalkeeper position. She beat out the two upperclassmen for the job and has only cemented her spot further with two shutouts. 

Based on the potential she has shown this season, a performance like this was always on the cards, but the biggest surprise was the circumstances under which it came.

Pullman, Wash., experienced a heavy snowfall the night before the game, and as a result the Cougars’ Lower Soccer Field was in bad shape.

“It started off somewhat green, and by the end of the game it was just mud,” Wheatley said.

In addition to the weather, Wheatley was coming off arguably her worst performance as an Illini after they lost their first Big Ten Tournament game 5-3 against Indiana.

“We can’t let five goals in. That is unacceptable,” Illinois soccer captain Vanessa DiBernardo said after the loss to Indiana.

DiBernardo expressed her disappointment about not only the number of goals conceded but the way they were conceded. The first two goals came on similar shots from more than 18 yards out on the left flank. The fourth goal, from 5 yards inside the Illinois half, was sandwiched by two close range finishes inside the penalty area.

“My old goalkeeper coach used to tell me, ‘You’ve got to pretend you’re putting it in the toilet and flush it,” Wheatley said of how she handles a bad game. “Obviously it wasn’t a great experience, but you can’t dwell on that. The longer you dwell on a bad experience, the harder it is to move on.”

Wheatley may have had all offseason to dwell on the loss. Illinois was a bubble team for the NCAA tournament, and was one of the last teams announced during the selection show. Head coach Janet Rayfield stuck with Wheatley for the starting spot, and the choice paid off. Illinois was outshot 17-4 in the first half, but Wheatley stopped all seven shots on goal.

Not to be outdone by her first half performance, Wheatley added four more saves in the second half and overtime of that game. She then blocked two of the Cougars’ penalty kicks to help give Illinois the win. Even with the pressure at its highest, Wheatley was able to remain level-headed.

“For me it’s all about staying loose,” Wheatley said. “(And) not getting really tense.”

Despite the muddy and wet weather conditions, Wheatley was able to get her body in front of shots. She knew she was not going to be able to get her hands on the ball, but she wanted to be able to save the rebound before a Washington State player could get to it.

Wheatley has made a number of top-drawer saves for the Illini in just her first season, but her impact goes beyond stops. Early in her Illini career, she struggled with vocally and physically establishing dominance in her box. Wheatley’s communication gotten better.

“(Claire) has become a leader,” defender Casey Conine said. “We hear a lot from her, and we’re confident playing it back (to her). She tells us where she needs us to be and that’s because she’s more connected with us.”

Lanre and Alex can be reached at [email protected] and @WriterLanre and @AlexOrtiz2334.