The Illini (6-7-2, 2-5-1) were unable to overcome the Bruins (12-2-2, 7-0-1), who sat No. 2 in the Big Ten coming into today’s match. An unfortunate 3-1 ending cemented what could be another slump for the team.
Coming into Sunday, the Illini hoped they could pull the good from their loss against No. 19 USC and leave the bad behind. While they demonstrated multiple improvements, it was not enough.
UCLA had a similar play style to that of USC. They had fast forwards and kept their defense tight. This forced Illinois to the outside and forced them to play into the middle from far out.
Despite this tactic, Illinois took note of what to do in situations like this. First, they pulled the defense out wide to open up the middle of the box. Second, they brought in defensive players to aid offensive attacks. Third, they triangulated passes in the middle to draw midfielders and defenders. Then, they were aggressive offensively and took open shots without sacrificing ball control.
Illinois combined the first two strategies. This created multiple opportunities up top and allowed them to situate themselves in the Bruins’ defensive half for much of the opener.
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Illinois also succeeded at descending on the ball. The Illini shut down runs from the Bruins early on or forced them into turnovers. They were unable to do this against the Trojans. This time, however, they executed by putting two or three Illini defensively on the ball handler.
Bruin senior defender Jayden Perry scored the first goal of the game late in the first half. In what was mostly a solid defensive performance for the Illini, a slight slip-up from sophomore defender Mya Archibald awarded the Bruins a penalty. Perry quickly and easily converted this to push her team ahead.
Throughout the game, Illinois forced UCLA to the sidelines and kept their opponents from charging down the middle. However, the Bruins had a solid sideline game, out-maneuvered the Illini and returned to space in the midfield.
Senior midfielder Sarah Hiestand made quite the impact in this game. In the opening 45, Hiestand made more than a few sideline runs herself. This left the remaining Illinois attackers, primarily junior forwards Sarah Foley and Lia Howard, open in the middle to receive the cross, turn and shoot. Additionally, she assisted the Illinois goal, securing her first of the season.
However, Illinois did not manage to use Hiestand’s abilities in this technique to its full potential. In the first half, the Illini took only two shots, neither on target. This was due to an issue that has plagued the team often: holding the ball too long in the box. Taking two or more touches that close to the net is not beneficial to the team. Something like this slows down play and allows the already crowded defense to recover and pick the ball or force Illinois to have to push outside the net again.
UCLA is a team with speed on both ends. Its quickness can be used against it by pulling one or two players out wide to dump to the middle. However, it only works if the offense is prepared to take the opportunities as quickly as they are sent in. Hesitating only leads to the momentum being stopped, and the chance snatched away.
Just five minutes into the second half, the Bruins increased their lead to 2-0. This was the result of a blocked pass from the defense, which should have been sent sooner. However, senior defender Quincy McMahon received the ball from a teammate due to this miscalculation. McMahon carried into the box while the Illinois defense recovered, then cut to the right once her path was blocked. Then, McMahon effectively dribbled into a tight pocket of open space and fired off a shot. It powered past redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Izzy Lee into the upper right corner.
Illinois responded immediately, carrying the ball into the Bruins’ half from the kickoff. All game, the Illini tried to keep their field condensed to prevent the Bruins’ offense from having a high lead in their half. Awarded a free kick high in UCLA territory, they brought their defense higher. This was a great decision, as it led to their first and only goal of the match.
Senior defender Angie Galo put it short to fifth-year midfielder Kennedy Berschel, who sent it to Foley. Under pressure and unable to turn, she kicked it back out to Galo. Then she took a shot from roughly 25 yards out, and the defender sent it high looking for the net. Graduate student goalkeeper Ryan Campbell got hands on it behind her head but couldn’t hang on, thus giving Illinois the goal.
The Illini held the Bruins, 2-1, for the next six minutes. But UCLA, knowing that a one-goal lead on the reinvigorated Illinois team was too dangerous to accept, pushed itself to notch another point. Junior midfielder Sofia Cook was the one to put it away with a calm, measured control not many would have when so surrounded.
Neither side scored again despite continued efforts from both the Bruins and Illini. Despite a good showing from the hosts, they struggled to close when in scoring territory, and it cost them a potential draw. Constant advances from UCLA overworked their defense as the game continued, leading to coverage mistakes and open areas in the attacking third.
The Illini can take away a lot of good from this match despite the loss. If improvements persist, they may be able to crawl out of this losing streak.
