Michigan
9-7-6, 4-2-4
Illinois
16-3-2, 7-1-2
Wolverines Blanked by Illinois in Big Ten Tourney Final
11/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team was unable to finish off a spectacular run at a Big Ten Tournament championship, falling 2-0 in the final to No. 2 seed Illinois on Sunday (Nov. 9) at the McClimon Soccer Complex. Illinois (16-3-2), ranked 11th in the nation, scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of the contest to put the game out of reach for U-M.
The Wolverines were on the defensive for the first several minutes of the contest, as Illinois earned three corner kick opportunities in the first five minutes. The Illini's first attempt fell onto the foot of a U-M player but was not cleared out. Seconds later, Illinois was presented with its second corner kick, which was eventually cleared by the Wolverines.
Illinois continued to apply pressure, as Wolverine keeper Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS) was forced to come out and making a diving stop on a cross before an Illini forward could get to it. With 40:45 remaining in the first half, Illinois got its chance at a third corner kick, but the ensuing header was just shy left.
Michigan would not get its first offensive opportunity until the 12th minute, as freshman Judy Coffman's (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa HS) header off a restart was stopped by Illini keeper Leisha Alcia. Two minutes later, senior Stephanie Chavez (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood HS) received a pass in front, but her blast from about 25 yards out was scooped up by Alcia. The Wolverines were able to send Alcia's kick back into the Illinois end, where Chavez fired a shot from outside the left corner of the 18-yard box, but her strike grazed the top right corner of the goal and went out of play.
With 22 minutes left until the break Tuura made another save on a header off a throw-in. The Fighting Illini's final chances of the half came with around 15 minutes on the clock. Illinois' Christine Sinak took a shot off the bounce from the top of the box, but her attempt sailed just high of the top left corner of the goal. Two minutes later, the Wolverine defense was unable to clear the ball out and Jessica Bayne launched a ball that traveled along the exact same path as Sinak's previous attempt.
Illinois finished the first 45 minutes with a 7-3 advantage in the shot category. Tuura made three saves in the half for Michigan, while Alcia made two stops for the Illini.
The Wolverines survived Illinois' fifth corner kick in the 43rd minute, as an Illini player whiffed at a chance at the far post. Michigan earned its first corner kick of the game with 37:45 remaining, but freshman Katelin Spencer's (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) shot fell into the hands of Alcia.
Nearly two minutes later, Chavez corralled the ball on left side and dribbled through her defender and toward the near post. Chavez attempted to flick the ball past a charging Alcia, but the shot was stopped by the Illinois keeper. With just over 30 minutes to go, Coffman made a nice cross to an open Chavez at the right side of the box, but Chavez was unable to get a head on the pass.
The Fighting Illini nearly caught a break at 30:35 of the second half, as Tuura was unable to get a grasp on a high bounce and the ball was loose in front. Fortunately, Tuura was able to pounce back on the ball and gain possession for U-M.
Illinois would get the game-winner with just over 10 minutes left, as Tara Hurless found herself alone with the ball at the side of the box. Hurless drew Tuura out of the net before putting it in the left side of the goal to give the Illini a 1-0 lead.
Exactly three minutes later, Illinois increased its lead when Jessica Bayne blasted a shot from the same spot as Hurless. Once again, the shot was too much for Tuura and the Fighting Illini went up 2-0.
Illinois continued to hold its ground in the final five minutes, allowing Michigan little chance to gain any momentum on the offensive end. Time eventually ran out on the Wolverines, as Illinois earned its first Big Ten Tournament championship with the two-goal win.
Chavez and freshman defender Brenna Mulholland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) were named to the all-tournament team following the contest.
Michigan (9-7-6) will await seeding for the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Pairings will be announced Monday (Nov. 10) at 3:30 p.m. EST on ESPNews.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Illinois | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- Tara Hurless, 79:14 (Paula Faherty)
2nd -- Jessica Bayne, 82:14 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 10, Illinois 11
Saves: U-M 3 (Megan Tuura), Illinois 5 (Leisha Alcia)
Corner Kicks: U-M 1, Illinois 7
Fouls: U-M 10, Illinois 14
Cards: U-M, Erika Kleinholz, 63:01 (yellow)
N O T E S
The Wolverines fall to 2-2 in Big Ten Tournament finals. U-M earned a championship in 1997 with a 1-0 overtime defeat of Northwestern and another title in 1999 with a 4-2 victory over Penn State. The Nittany Lions avenged the loss with a 1-0 triple-overtime win over Michigan the following year.
Michigan drops to 6-3-1 in the all-time series against Illinois.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Hurless, Tara
Assisted By: Faherty, Paula
far post, 15 yds.
79:14
Bayne, Jessica
1 v 1, 20 yds out over keeper
82:14
