Illinois soccer’s rough season has team looking to the future
By Miles Powers-Huang, Staff Writer
December 18, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Women's Sports
Coming off the heels of a less-than-stellar 2016 campaign, Illinois soccer was looking for a bounce-back season. However, with many underclassmen on the roster, it was realistic to expect a rebuilding season from Janet Rayfield’s 2017 squad. While a 5-14 record is nothing to celebrate, Rayfield hopes ...
Illinois soccer ends season on a lackluster note
By Miles Powers-Huang, Contributing writer
October 27, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Top Stories, Women's Sports
As the Illinois soccer team closed the season with nothing to play for, the only thing left to do was give everything to deliver a happy ending to its senior class’ careers Wednesday night against Iowa. When Iowa's Devin Burns found her way into the box and fired her ninth goal of the season pas...
Seniors aim to end their careers on a high note
By Miles Powers-Huang, Contributing writer
October 25, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Top Stories, Women's Sports
The four-year journey of the Illinois soccer team's senior class comes to a close Wednesday night against Iowa, and although emotions will be riding high, head coach Janet Rayfield expects her players to channel those emotions and end the season strong. “With any senior, as their career comes to a cl...
Illinois loses at Michigan after late scoring burst
By Miles Powers-Huang, Contributing writer
October 24, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Women's Sports
As the whistle sounded on a 3-0 victory for the Michigan women’s soccer team over Illinois, the Illini could not believe that such a tight game ended with such a misleading scoreline. After a back-and-forth first half that ended with no score — despite both teams registering seven shots — the teams...
Illini soccer on the cusp of breaking through
By Miles Powers-Huang, Staff Writer
October 19, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Women's Sports
The feeling of being on the cusp of success can be a double-edged sword: You are close to achieving your goals, but at the same time you are unable to take anything for granted without wasting the hard work already put in to succeed. This is the position Illinois soccer head coach Janet Rayfield finds...
Illinois soccer falls 4-0 to Minnesota on Senior Day
By Miles Powers-Huang, Contributing writer
October 17, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Top Stories, Women's Sports
Sometimes the final box score for a sporting event doesn’t tell the full story of the game. Illinois soccer head coach Janet Rayfield felt the 4-0 loss in the game against Minnesota on Sunday was one of those instances. After Minnesota opened the game with an early goal, there was a long period...
Illini fall to the Badgers in a close contest
By Miles Powers-Haung, Contributing Writer
October 14, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Women's Sports
As Wisconsin’s Dani Rhodes 87th-minute shot deflected off of Jaelyn Cunningham’s hands and into the back of the net, a performance that might have deserved a draw turned into a loss for the Illini, snapping their two-game winning streak. Rayfield lamented the result of the game being determined...
Illini of the Week: Jaelyn Cunningham
By Miles Powers-Huang, Staff writer
October 12, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Top Stories, Women's Sports
Most people believe being a goalkeeper in soccer is simple: you keep the ball out of the back of the net. In reality, the skills required to be a great goalkeeper are not so straightforward. However, Illinois’ sophomore Jaelyn Cunningham is beginning to flash those traits. Cunningham, who leads...
Illinois seniors defeat Northwestern for the first time
By Miles Powers-Huang, Contributing writer
October 9, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Women's Sports
As the Illinois soccer team locked horns with Northwestern on a wet, windy Saturday night, the only concern on the minds of each team’s players was doing whatever was necessary to defeat its arch-rival. The game was a defensive stalemate, which is exactly what coach Janet Rayfield had been anticipating...
Illini of the Week: Kara Marbury
By Miles Powers-Huang, Contributing writer
October 7, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Women's Sports
In what has been a tough season for Illinois soccer, performances such as Kara Marbury's against Indiana could turn the tide. Sunday’s victory over Indiana saw many firsts for the Illini, but most importantly, Marbury became the first player to score two goals in a game, playing an integral part in her team’s win. Marbur...
Maday impresses, helps Illini break losing streak
By Miles Power-Huang, Staff writer
October 5, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Women's Sports
Although the Illinois soccer team was on a seven-game losing stint, head coach Janet Rayfield continued to preach to her team about the value of trusting the process and improving over time. The first positive result of this approach sprouted on Sunday as Kelly Maday came face to face with Indiana goalkeepe...
Illinois soccer breaks one streak, continues another
By Miles Powers-Huang, Contributing writer
September 26, 2017
Filed under Soccer, Sports, Top Stories, Women's Sports
Any sports fan will tell you that trusting a rebuilding process is tough to endure, but ultimately, suffering a slew of losses so that your team can build its identity pays off in the long run. As the Illinois soccer team suffered its sixth consecutive defeat on Sunday, this message was the center ...
