Goals from Timko and Heifetz Help U-M Edge Illinois on the Road

Sunday, October 26

Champaign, Ill.

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

12-4-2, 8-2-2B1G

Illinois

10-7-1, 5-6-1B1G

Michigan

Illinois

Jessica Heifetz

Goals from Timko and Heifetz Help U-M Edge Illinois on the Road

10/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Whitney Dixon

Site: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Soccer & Track Stadium)
Score: Michigan 2, Illinois 1
Records: U-M (12-4-2, 8-2-2 Big Ten), Illinois (10-7-1, 5-6-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 1 -- at Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.), 7 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team overcame an early 1-0 deficit to notch a 2-1 win at Illinois on Sunday (Oct. 26) inside Illinois Soccer & Track Stadium. The Wolverines were outshot, 23-8, but limited the Fighting Illini to just six total shots on goal in the match.

Illinois got on the board first early in the match, taking a 1-0 lead at the 7:21 mark. Illini Jannelle Flaws flicked a ball into the box to Reagan Robishaw, who put a shot on net. Freshman Taylor Timko got a touch on the ball attempting to block it, but the ball still found its way to the back of the net.

Michigan responded less than two minutes later to even the score, 1-1. Sophomore/freshman Ani Sarkisian served a corner kick into the box and Timko redirected it into the net just inside the far post at 8:58.

Play was relatively even through the first 45 minutes, as the score was tied, 1-1, and Illinois held a slight edge in shots, 6-5, at the half.

Less than 15 minutes into the second half, the Wolverines pushed their lead to 2-1, scoring on a set piece for the second time in the match. Timko served a left-footed free kick from about 35 yards out into the box, where sophomore Nicky Waldeck got a head on it. The ball dropped to the turf and sophomore Jessica Heifetz was there to finish the goal near the center of the goal line at 59:09.

Following Michigan's goal, Illinois was on the attack for the majority of the remaining time. The Illini outshot the Wolverines 17-3 in the second half, but U-M's defense allowed just three of those shots on goal, and Illinois could not manage the equalizer.

Michigan completed its road trip to the state of Illinois with a 1-0-1 record and moved to 8-2-2 in Big Ten play with today's win. Next up, the Wolverines will conclude regular-season play at Purdue on Saturday (Nov. 1). The match will begin at 7 p.m. at Boilermaker Soccer Complex and will be streamed live on BTN Plus.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Michigan	1	1	2
Illinois	1	0	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- ILL, Reagan Robishaw, 7:21 (Jannelle Flaws)
1st -- U-M, Taylor Timko, 8:58 (Ani Sarkisian)
2nd -- U-M, Jessica Heifetz, 59:09 (Timko, Nicky Waldeck)

Shots: U-M 8, ILL 23
Shots on Goal: U-M 4, ILL 6
Saves: U-M 5 (Megan Hinz), ILL 2 (Claire Wheatley)
Corner Kicks: U-M 3, ILL 4
Cards: None

NOTES

• Both of Michigan's goals in the win came on set pieces -- one on a corner kick and one on a free kick. U-M has now scored 12 of its 33 goals off corner kicks this season.

• With her assist on Taylor Timko's goal, Ani Sarkisian remains the Big Ten's leader in assists with 12 this season. She is second on the team in points with 20 on four goals and 12 assists. Sarkisian also took over sole possession of fifth place on Michigan's single-season records list with her 12 assists.

• Goalkeeper Megan Hinz made five saves to earn her 11th win of the season (11-2-2).

• Jessica Heifetz earned her second career start today and scored her third goal of the season, playing 43 minutes.

• With her goal and assist today, Taylor Timko produced her first three-point game of her career.

• Michigan was outshot 23-8 in the win and is now 3-3-1 this season when being outshot by its opponent.

• Michigan's defense held the Big Ten's leading scorer, Jannelle Flaws, to just one assist today. She tallied 10 shots, with just two of those going on target.

• Michigan now leads the all-time series with Illinois, 13-8-1, and has won each of the last two meetings.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Greg Ryan

On bouncing back with a win after an overtime match on Friday ... "It was a fantastic effort because we were exhausted after the Northwestern game. That game was played at such a fast pace, and we didn't have our legs early in today's game. It was a tremendous effort from the girls to be down a goal early and fight back to get it level and then find the winner in the second half. We defended so well. Illinois had very few quality chances even though they had a lot of shots. It was just a gritty performance by our team."

On the importance of today's win ... "This win was huge for us. In the Big Ten, the worst we can do is third. And for a young team like this, that's a fantastic run this year. I don't think anybody expected us to do this well. Beating Illinois, who perennially is an NCAA level team in the Big Ten, solidified our chances to be considered for the NCAA Tournament. We had to have this win to be looked at by the NCAA, so getting it gives us that opportunity."

On Taylor Timko's play and contributions to the team ... "Taylor is young and she's so talented. She gives it everything she has. She's playing a position she's never played before, but even though she's playing in the defense, she's scoring goals and getting assists for us. She still gets into the attack. She's had a fantastic freshman year so far, with four goals and two assists, and for us to get that kind of production out of Taylor, along with Madi Lewis on the other side of the defense -- that's just phenomenal."