Late Zugay Goal not Enough in U-M Setback at Illinois

Sunday, September 24

Champaign, Ill.

1:00 p.m. CT

Michigan

6-2-2, 2-1-0

Illinois

5-3-2, 1-1-1

Michigan

Illinois

Abby Zugay (Michigan Photography)

Late Zugay Goal not Enough in U-M Setback at Illinois

9/24/2023 4:54:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Scott Kemps

» Sophomore Abby Zugay scored her first collegiate goal off a career-first assist from junior Syah Mangat in the 86th minute, but the Wolverine comeback attempt ran out of time.
» Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski totaled four saves on the afternoon.
» Michigan allowed a season-high two goals in the match, while the result snaps U-M's six-match win streak and eight-match unbeaten streak.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Despite the first career goal for sophomore Abby Zugay in the 87th minute, the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team fell by a 2-1 score to Illinois on Sunday (Sept. 24) at Illinois' Demirjian Park.

The result snaps Michigan's seven-match win streak and eight-match unbeaten streak.

Illinois' Makala Woods got the Illini (5-3-2, 2-1 Big Ten) on the board first and gave them a 6-1 lead in the shots category. She took a touch 16 yards out in traffic and finished lower-left with her left foot to make it 1-0 in the early going in the 20th minute.

Nearly seven minutes later, the Illini added to their lead when U-M gave away a penalty kick at the 27th minute. The initial shot was saved by U-M goalkeeper senior Stephanie Sparkowski. However, the follow-up attempt was put home by Sarah Foley to make the count 2-0.

The Wolverines (6-2-2, 2-1 Big Ten) had two shots hit off the cross bar in the early portion of the second half, with the first coming from freshman Lilley Bosley in the 59th minute in transition. Minutes later, sophomore Kali Burrell sent a lofted shot with her left foot at the top of the 18 that also rang off of the woodwork.

Michigan was down but not out, generating a chance of note in the 75th minute, as junior Tamia Tolbert sent in a low ball service from the top of the box. Her ball was sent to space occupied by a pair of Wolverine attackers, but skipped out of bounds.

U-M found life in the 87th minute, cutting the Illini lead in half on the first career goal of Zugay's collegiate career. Junior Syah Mangat played in a lofted service off a set-piece from 40 yards out that was headed home by the streaking Zugay. The helper for Mangat was the first of her career.

However, time ran out on the Wolverines' comeback attempt as the Maize and Blue was unable to generate any further opportunities in the final minutes.

Sparkowski totaled four saves on the afternoon, including yet another penalty-kick save, her third of the season.

Tweet of the Match

87' | ????

ABBY ZUGAY! Heads home the lofted service from Syah Mangat.

1:2
#GoBlue?? | #OurWay pic.twitter.com/9u1NmKoSOx
— Michigan Women's Soccer (@umichwsoccer) September 24, 2023

With the team's initial Big Ten road trip concluded, U-M returns home to host No. 2-ranked Penn State on Thursday (Sept. 28) at 7 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium. The match, which will be streamed live on B1G+, will mark the first time since the 2004 season that a top-five opponent has visited U-M Soccer Stadiumd for a regular-season matchup.