CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini Soccer opened the 2016 season with a 2-0 shutout of Morehead State on Friday (Aug. 19). Seniors Summer Schafer and Alia Abu-Doulehcarried the Illini over the Eagles, both netting their first career goals in the match. The Orange and Blue were dominant in the contest, putting 13 shots on goal and allowing just three total shots from Morehead State.

"Those are two seniors who have put in a lot of work over the spring and summer in terms of their training, so to see them rewarded on that end is great," head coach Janet Rayfield said of Abu-Douleh and Schafer. "Now we need other people to step up, we had a number of chances and made some great decisions in the final third tonight. We just didn't execute some of those decisions as well as we would have liked to."

The Illini took possession in the game immediately, working to keep the ball on Morehead State's side of the field for most of the first half. Illinois fired 13 first-half shots while holding the Eagles without an attempt of their own. With just over 16 minutes left in the first half, Schafer was able to find the back of the net and give UI the advantage over Morehead State. The goal also marks Schafer's first career game-winning goal. Freshman Alicia Barker, who debuted her flip throw-in for the Illini, tallied her first career shot on goal while also earning the start for the Orange and Blue.

Abu-Douleh found the goal for the Illini in the 86^th minute of play, flicking a pass from senior Hope D'Addario just over the Morehead State goalkeeper. The assist marks the ninth of D'Addario's career, she was among team leaders for her five assists during the 2015 campaign.

Senior goalkeeper Michelle Denley earned her first victory of the season, and the third of her career, playing all 90 minutes of the match. Several newcomers made their first collegiate appearances on Friday, including Barker, Kelly Maday, Lexi Carrier, and Arianna Veland.

"It's a win, and I think it was good to get the nerves out and get that first win under our belt," Rayfield said of the match. "That will be helpful moving forward, however there are certainly things we need to do better than we did them tonight.  The quality of possession and of our ball movement is going to be really important for us moving forward."

The Illini will return to the field on Sunday (Aug. 21), hosting Illinois State in a 1 p.m. match. The first 250 fans to arrive at Sunday's game will receive free Illini Soccer Cowbells. Illinois has an 8-2-2 advantage in the all-time series with the Redbirds, and earned a 1-0 victory over the in-state foe last August.

Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest on Illinois Soccer.

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