With about a month before Illinois soccer opens up its 2021 season against Eastern Illinois, I thought it would be great to look back and rank the goals from the 2020 season. 

14. Maggie Hillman goal from scramble in the box

Northwestern failed to clear the ball properly, and it bounced right off Hillman and into the goal. Hillman and Zoey Kollhoff applied pressure and basically blocked off any avenue for the Wildcats to clear. Though it did look like Kollhoff got the goal initially, Hillman eventually got the credit. 

Illinois vs Northwestern Goal 1 MH

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13. Jumble in the box leads to goal for Kendra Pasquale

The ball goes from Eileen Murphy’s head to Meredith Johnson-Monfort’s foot to hitting the crossbar. In the sea of Iowa players, the Hawkeyes failed to clear the ball. After nearly everyone was trying to throw their body at the ball, it rolled into the path of none other than Pasquale, and she tucked it into the back of the net with ease. 

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12. Kendra Pasquale goal against Nebraska

What is a Pasquale goal without her rapid speed and a left-footed shot. Nebraska tries to clear the ball, it just bounces off Pasquale’s shin and she’s off on goal one-on-one with the goalkeeper. She pulls out the keeper and slots the ball in on her strong foot and gets a clean shot on goal. 

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11. Maggie Hillman goal vs. Nebraska

This is a great cross from Ashley Cathro going right into the space where Hope Breslin is. She gets a head on it but nearly looks like she got knocked out from the goalkeeper’s punch. Breslin’s header bounces right in front of goal, and there’s Hillman to chase after the ball to beat Nebraska and put it into the net. 

Illinois vs Nebraska Goal 3 MH

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10. Makena Silber: Right time, right place against Purdue

Unlucky for Hillman’s shot to rattle off the crossbar, but the ball bounces right in front of Silber and she slots it in for the lone goal of the game. This goal started from Silber’s themes of the season, which were game-winning goals and being a clutch player. 

Illinois vs Purdue Goal 1 MS

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9. Eileen Murphy header against Michigan State

Murphy is known to be one of the tallest players on the team to create an aerial threat in the box, whether it be on a set piece or a corner. Both goals she has scored this past season were headers, and, for this goal in particular, not only does she tower over her marker, but her header is too hard to clear off the line. Plus, it’s another Aleah Treiterer and Murphy connection off a restart. 

Illinois Soccer vs Michigan State Goal 1 EM

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8. Pasquale fights off Ohio State for goal 

This goal is kind of cool because Pasquale muscles off two defenders and just boots the ball into the roof of the net. While Pasquale may not have the strength of Silber, she shoved off her defenders like it was nothing. 

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7. Kendra Pasquale’s quick feet against Iowa

The team’s top goalscorer, Pasquale has been known to be quick on the field and score goals, which she combined to score against the Hawkeyes. Just one quick shimmy onto her dominant foot allowed the ball to zip low on the ground past the keeper into the back of the net.

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6. Summer Garrison goal and celebration photo against Iowa

This goal is one Garrison will never forget and will be able to tell this story for ages. From the shot, to reaction, to celebration; it’s great. See, now I don’t really know what she was aiming for, but it got Illinois on the board against Iowa. Her left-footed shot takes a bounce right in front of the keeper and goes over her to trickle right into goal to give Garrison her first goal of the season. 

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Gotta say this is one of my favorite pictures from the season. 

Photo courtesy of Michael Glasgow / Illinois Athletics

5. Murphy towers over Indiana

Illinois had gone through a three-game scoring drought, and, against Indiana, Murphy scored the lone goal of the game and started a streak of goal-scoring. The set piece from Treiterer sailed to the back post to find a wide open Murphy to head the ball right into the net. With a player like Murphy, I’d say that she should be marked immediately because of the danger she presents in the air, but she took full advantage of being open and a perfectly served ball to the back post. 

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4. Pasquale pass to Silber for game winner against Nebraska 

The pass from Pasquale that split the two defenders and Silber making a great timed run to be one-on-one with the goalkeeper was a great combination. Not the cleanest shot, but she did get lucky with the keeper’s save deflecting into goal. 

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3. Makena Silber game winning goal at Michigan State 

Another great game-winner from Silber in the 84th minute gave Illinois a 2-1 win. While Silber was wide open on the far post, some of the credit has to go to Garrison for her movement off the ball to pull her defender to the near post to create the space in front of goal to be wide open. 

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2. Kennedy Berschel equalizer against Iowa in Big Ten tournament 

It was Illinois’ first appearance in the Big Ten tournament since 2018, and, unfortunately, it was short lived. However, freshman Kennedy Berschel’s goal helped the Illini tie the game and ultimately send it to overtime. A cross into the box from Makena Silber gets cleared right to the feet of Berschel near the penalty spot. The control and push to her left foot allows space to wind it up and smack it right into the top right of the net. Being cool and composed inside the box puts her goal at No. 2. 

Illinois vs Iowa B10 Tourney KB

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1. Last-minute game-winner at Northwestern

Without a doubt, Pasquale’s game-winning goal against Northwestern gets the No. 1 spot. It’s on Wildcat turf and an in-state showdown. What’s the best way to get three points? Give the ball to an open Kendra Pasquale right on top of the six-yard box to seal the win with one minute and 14 seconds left in the game. Also, kudos to Garrison seeing the pass and Pasquale for moving into a better position to receive a pass. Plus, you can’t help but to look at the excited fans in the parking lot watching the goal.

Illinois vs Northwestern Goal 2 KP

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@AngelleCortes 

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