September 20, 2012
TAYLORE MADE
Peterson goal give Illini 1-0 win over Buckeyes

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Taylore Peterson scored the only goal to give Illinois a 1-0 win over Ohio State in a lightning delayed game at the Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium Friday night.

Peterson's game winner came in the 68th minute. A free kick by Kassidy Brown just inside the Buckeyes half found Nicole Breece at the top of the six yard box,. Breece passed it off to Peterson who then one-timed the shot into the lower left corner of the goal.

Peterson came close to getting the Orange and Blue on the board in the 17th-minute when she released a shot from 10 yards out, but Ohio State's keeper Rachel Middleman made a leaping save and punched it over the crossbar.
Ohio State had their best chance to score in the half in the 41st minute. Lauren Granberg's shot was blocked by an Illini defender, but she collected her rebound and fired again from 10 yards out. Illinois goalkeeper Steph Panozzo reacted instantly with a diving save to her left. With her arms in full extension, Panozzo grabbed the ball by her fingertips.

Illinois almost got their first goal in the 53rd-minute when Niki Read's shot from 21 yards out forced Jillian McVicker to make a leaping save. On the ensuing corner kick spearheaded by DiBernardo, the Illini designed a great play to free up Peterson at the top of the box but was thwarted at the last minute by the Buckeyes.

Ohio State was once again denied by the cat-like reflexes displayed by Panozzo in the 58th-minute. Buckeye Lauren Granberg was standing at the six yard box on the far post when she headed a ball on goal from a cross. Panozzo, without hesitating, leaped up into the air and punched the ball over the bar just in time.

Vanessa DiBernardo just missed out with scoring in back-to-back Big Ten games when she released a shot off of her left foot from around 24 yards out with 26 minutes remaining in the game. The ball flew just inches over the crossbar.

The victory evens the overall series between the two programs at 8-8-1 and snaps the Buckeyes six-game winning streak. The Illini also remain undefeated at home at 4-0-0 in which they have outscored their opponents 7-2.

The Orange and Blue outshot the Buckeyes 19-13 and 5-4 in shots on goal. Panozzo recorded her third shutout of the season, making four saves. Middleman made one save for the Buckeyes in the first half, while McVicker made three in the second half.


Illinois hosts Penn State t on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT.