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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – DePaul women’s soccer was held off by Illinois 2-1, Sunday afternoon. The Blue Demons tied the match with a late goal, but the Fighting Illini responded with a decisive strike in the 82nd minute to secure the win at Demirjian Park.
“The team executed the game plan, but we lost some individual battles at key moments, which led to conceding the two goals,” said head coach Michele O’Brien. “I’m proud of the team for scoring to get us back in the game and for fighting hard throughout. We need to learn and grow from this experience, and I know we will.”
Illinois (2-0-0) controlled possession for most of the match, holding the ball approximately 62% of the time. The Blue Demons (0-1-1) were outshot 15 to six, but the shots on goal were more evenly matched, with DePaul having four and Illinois five.
The match began with Illinois firing off three shots in the first twelve minutes, the last of which was impressively saved by the foot of DePaul goalkeeper Elena Milam.
Once the Blue Demons flipped the field, they took their first two shots in the 16th and 18th minutes. Jena Devona’s shot on goal in the 16th minute was close but saved by Illinois’ Madison Mariani.
Despite being held without a corner kick, the Blue Demons managed to generate quick possessions. Though there was little action until after the 30th minute, Briley Hill and Lea Eisenring both took shots that narrowly missed the mark.
In the 43rd minute, just over a minute before halftime, DePaul committed a foul in the goal box, setting up a prime scoring opportunity for Illinois. Ashley Stellon took the penalty kick and blasted a shot into the back of the net, giving the Illini a lead to close the first half.
Just 38 seconds into the second half, Devona attempted another shot on goal, but it was saved by Illinois goalkeeper Izzy Lee.
The match then saw a 20-minute lull in shot attempts until Illinois registered three shots between the 62nd and 66th minutes.
Following a foul on Illinois in the 67th minute, DePaul gained momentum. Lea Eisenring delivered a powerful free kick into the box, and Mya Gardner headed it into the net to square the match at 1-1.
However, Illinois quickly regained possession, pushing DePaul back into their defensive zone. In the 82nd minute, Lea Howard scored off swift assists from Sydney Stevens and Mya Archibald, putting the Illini back on top.
Despite late pressure from the Blue Demons in search of an equalizer, they couldn’t find the back of the net again, resulting in a 2-1 victory for Illinois.
Match Notes
- Illinois secured its first victory over DePaul since 2017
- The Fighting Illini take the all-time series lead, 2-1-0
- Illinois accumulated 8 corner kicks, with DePaul registering none
- 67% of DePaul shot attempts were on target
UP NEXT
DePaul wraps up its ‘Illinois Series’ on Sunday, Aug. 25, when it visits Loyola Chicago. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT at Hoyne Field, with coverage on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Women’s Soccer, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram and Facebook.
TICKET INFORMATION
Join DePaul Women’s Soccer at Wish Field this fall! Blue Demon Soccer Supporter Memberships are on sale now, which include access to all regular season men’s and women’s home matches at Wish Field! Single-game tickets can be purchased at DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets.
