CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 17 nationally-ranked University of Illinois soccer team wrapped up play at the Illini/Boilermaker Challenge Cup Presented by Gameday Spirit with a come-from-behind victory over Colorado, 3-2, at Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo tallied two goals on the day, including the game-winner, while senior midfielder/forward Marissa Mykines added her third goal of the season.

“To come from behind twice [is special], you have to be a good team to come from behind once,” Illinois head coach Janet Rayfield said. “We talked about being confident in our goal scoring and the more we have games like this, we can rely on that to win games and the more and more confident we will be in our attack.”

Colorado broke the scoreless tie at the 37:04 mark, as Kate Russell converted a free-kick attempt from just outside the Illinois 18-yard box. The one-goal lead would hold through halftime; however, Mykines equalized the game only five minutes into the second half.

Fifty minutes into the contest, Mykines controlled the ball 25 yards from the Colorado goal, initially looking to distribute to a teammate closer to the goal. With the defense closing in around her, Mykines dribbled toward the center of the pitch and fired a strike on net with her right foot from 20 yards away. As Mykines lined up for the shot, Colorado’s starting goalie, Annie Brunner, began moving to her right in anticipation of Mykines’ strike going to the Spokane, Wash., native’s left. However, Mykines bent the shot away from her body, placing it out of the reach of Brunner, who was only able to get the fingertips of her left hand on the ball before it went in.

Colorado (2-3-0 overall) again earned a one-goal advantage in the 68th minute, following a unique set of plays. An Illini was called for a foul near the Colorado bench and two of the Buffaloes’ coaches were issued yellow cards after addressing the head referee as he attended to the foul called near the bench. After both cautions were issued and play resumed, Colorado took a free kick from 30 yards away and placed a ball into the middle of a cluster of players from both teams. As the ball landed inside the 18-yard box, an Illinois player was called for a handball, resulting in a penalty kick attempt for the Buffaloes. Amy Barczuk stepped up from her position on defense to take the shot for Colorado, placing her attempt into the top-right corner of the netting for the 2-1 advantage.

Less than five minutes after Colorado’s second tally, DiBernardo made her presence known with two quick strikes to give the Illini their only lead of the contest and seal the victory. In the 72nd minute, junior midfielder/forward Niki Read placed a pass perfectly into the Buffaloes’ goalie box, where DiBernardo ran onto it and struck the ball into the lower-right corner for tie the contest at 2-2. Only two minutes and 26 seconds later, DiBernardo was unassisted in securing the victory, recovering a loose ball before placing a shot into the left side of the net, near the post, for the 3-2 lead.

“She [DiBernardo] is growing as a player,” Rayfield said. “The thing that’s great about it is that she just finds those opportunities as her team is able to find her in spaces. If Niki [Read] is going to the endline, Vanessa is in that seam to get the ball in a really good place. Her finishing has been great, but she has also started to be a defensive presence and win the ball. Her game is evolving and as it evolves she makes all the players around her better. We are a good team because we like to share the ball and Vanessa likes to share the ball, and as a result she is having great success.”

Illinois (5-1-0) outshot Colorado, 19-15, while the Buffaloes were called for 13 fouls, including three yellow cards, as Illinois was only flagged eight times. Junior Steph Panozzo made six saves in net for the Illini, a career high, to secure victory, while Brunner stopped six shots as well. Colorado earned a slight advantage in corner kicks, 6-5.

With USC and Colorado also playing at Purdue University on the weekend, an Illini/Boilermaker Challenge Cup Presented by Gameday Spirit All-Tournament Team was selected, with honorees coming from each school. DiBernardo, Mykines and Read represent the Illini as the trio combined for nine points on four goals and one assist on the weekend.

Illinois continues its season against the University of Oregon at the LSU Tournament, held in Baton Rouge, La., on Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. CT. The Illini will also face No. 25 Pepperdine on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. CT while in Baton Rouge.

 

Complete Illini/Boilermaker Challenge Presented By Gameday Spirit All-Tournament Team

Brittany Kerridge, Southern California

Shelby Church, Southern California

Carly Butcher, Southern California

Ashley Freyer, Southern California

Vanessa DiBernardo, Illinois

Marissa Mykines, Illinois

Niki Read, Illinois

Alex Hairston, Purdue

Mollie Kuramoto, Purdue

Clara Kridler, Purdue

Amy Barczuk, Colorado

Kate Russell, Colorado