<p>CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois soccer team (1-0) utilized an effective mixture of talented youth and experienced veterans, as they claimed the season opener on Friday evening, 1-0, over the visiting Western Michigan Broncos (0-1). Kassidy Brown's successful penalty kick, along with an Illini defense that would not budge, bolstered the Orange and Blue to victory.</p> <p>"There was a lot of small things that we didn't do well tonight that caused us to be back on our heels quite a bit," Illini interim head coach Jeff Freeman said. "We've got to have a better mentality. We've got to represent the University of Illinois and our soccer program a lot better than what we did tonight."</p> <p>The first half was a battle for possession with few chances for both squads. The Illini almost put the ball in the back of the net early on when Niki Read sent a through ball down the middle through the Broncos defense. Freshmen Nicole Breece then took a one-touch shot near the top of the visitor's 18-yard box, but the ball sailed right to the goalie. Yet, Western Michigan pressured the Illinois squad right back and eventually took a 8-5 shot lead heading into a scoreless halftime.</p> <p>The Fighting Illini started the second period strong. Immediately, Illini midfielder Nicole Denenberg chipped a ball down the left line into the defensive third of Western Michigan with Breece giving chase. After a blocked cross attempted by Breece, the freshman collected the rebound and took on the defender, who tripped Breece in an attempt to slow her down. The result was a penalty kick for Illinois.</p> <p>With just four and a half minutes passed in the second half, junior Kassidy Brown struck the penalty to the upper right portion of the goal. Broncos goalie Michelle Watson got a hand on it, but the shot was delivered with too much pace as the Ilini got on the board and took a 1-0 advantage. The penalty was Brown's first career goal.</p> <p>Illinois senior goalkeeper Steph Panozzo produced a fantastic performance in tonight's win. With 27 minutes remaining in the game, Western Michigan's Rachel Chaney received the ball off of a deflected Illinois clearance just inside the Illini box. Chaney instantly turned and shot, but Panozzo, standing just a few yards away, delivered a point-blank save extending to her right to keep the Broncos off the board.</p> <p>With under 20 minutes left to play, the Illini defense held strong and stymied the relentless Broncos attack. Western Michigan had three corner kicks within a five minute span, but the Orange and Blue denied each one. Finally, with nine minutes remaining, Steph Panozzo performed another nail-biting save when Western Michigan's Aubrey Sudomier struck a dipping ball from 25 yards out. Timing her jump perfectly, Panozzo was able to punch the ball over the crossbar for the save.</p> <p>"Steph Panozzo is fantastic," Freeman said. "She started off this year right where she left off last year, and she's certainly going to hold us together back there."</p> <p>The Illini earned the ever-important statistic that is the victory, but the Broncos did outshoot the Orange and Blue 20-9 and had an 8-3 advantage on corner kicks. Panozzo recorded eight total saves on the night, earning the shutout. Niki Read and Nicole Breece led the squad with three shots a piece with Brown and Megan Pawloski tallying two and one, respectively.</p> <p>The Orange and Blue return to action Sunday, Aug. 19, when they travel to Normal, Ill., to battle Illinois State at 1 p.m. at Adelaide Street Field.</p>