Syracuse University
Illinois
Women's Soccer Falls to Illinois
9/8/2006 10:43:01 PM | Women's Soccer
Champaign, Ill.- The Syracuse women’s soccer team lost to host Illinois at the Illini Tournament, 4-0. The loss is the Orange’s fourth shutout of the season and drops its record to 0-4-1.
Illinois scored in the 12th minute from 10 yards out on a cross and added another goal in the 55th minute. The Fighting Illini added two more goals at the end of the game to seal the victory. Junior goalie Candice Hofmann (Marcellus, N.Y.) made five saves in goal for the Orange.
Head coach Pat Farmer was encouraged by his team’s play, saying it was their best effort of the season.
“We played harder than we have all year,” Farmer said. “I was very pleased with our effort. They scored twice at the end of the game that makes the game look a little worse than it really was, but that had as much to do with my coaching decisions. Once we went down two goals, I changed our lineup, putting in an attacking forward for a midfielder and tried to push more. That allowed Illinois to gain an advantage on the other end.”
The scene was tough for the Orange heading into the game. Illinois started the season ranked high before dropping three consecutive games, they were opening their home schedule with the tournament and head coach Janet Rayfield was poised to claim her 100th career victory. Despite the factors weighing against them, Farmer takes many positives from the game.
“Our young players gave great efforts tonight. The whole team played hard. I know it’s another loss, but they all have a great attitude about it. I see a light at the end of the tunnel coming up. If we play this well in BIG EAST play, we will be in good shape.”
The Orange will close out the Illini Tournament when it faces Portland State on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The Vikings fell to 10th-ranked Auburn earlier on Friday.
