Illinois’ (13-6-2) first-round faceoff with undefeated Memphis (17-0-3) didn’t go the way the orange and blue faithful had hoped. The Illini’s struggles with getting shots on goal continued in the 2-1 loss Saturday night.
Deceiving start
The match started off favoring the Illini. The team appeared ready for the challenge of its first NCAA tournament game since 2013. They managed a shot on goal and three corner kicks in the first six minutes but failed to capitalize on these early opportunities.
This stretch represented three of the four corner kicks Illinois attempted throughout the entirety of the match, all of which came in the first half.
Five minutes later, the Illini found themselves down 1-0 when Tigers sophomore midfielder Ai Kitagawa ripped a shot past redshirt junior goalkeeper Izzy Lee shortly into the 11-minute mark.
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Gaining momentum
Illinois kept it close after the initial goal, allowing only one corner kick and no shots on goal until the 26:01 mark. That’s when sixth-year midfielder Sydney Stephens found herself wide open in front of the net after a deflected sophomore forward Cayla Jackson pass ricocheted off the Memphis keeper. Stephens buried the open shot and tied the game at 1-1.
Tigers unleashed
Unfortunately for Illinois, this goal unleashed a sleeping beast. Memphis took charge for the final 19 minutes of the half. putting up five shots on goal and two corner kicks to Illinois’ zero.
However, the Illini fought hard. Izzy Lee saved the two shots that flew her way and kept her team in it as she’s done all year long. She added to her program-record single-season save count, which now stands at 123.
It looked as if Illinois was going to sneak out of the first half with the score knotted at one, despite allowing Memphis to hold control for much of it.
However, with less than 30 seconds to go, an Illinois handball inside the box gave Memphis a penalty shot. Kitagawa promptly drilled the penalty shot for her second goal of the night, sending the Illini down 2-1 at the half.
Second half struggles
Memphis took control of the ball for the majority of the second half. The Illini managed only three shots on goal compared to Memphis’ nine. A similar issue occurred in Illinois’ Big Ten tournament loss to Washington (14-2-6), where it finished with six shots on goal compared to Washington’s 12.
Lee gave Illinois everything she had to close out the final half of the season, going three for three on saves in all of her chances. Unfortunately, the Illini had nothing to show for it. Illinois went scoreless for the entirety of the half, closing out their incredible season in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
