Big win for the Illini tonight. 2-1 in OT over Missouri. I blogged about it tonight. Link below. I'll try to keep close tabs on Janet Rayfield's team all season long.
http://illinihq.com/blogs/molines_musings/2008/08/23/big_win_for_illinois_soccer

Jamie Alvis today was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, in just her fourth career start.
http://www.illinihq.com/blogs/molines_musings/2008/08/25/alvis_wins_weekly_honor

Here's my conversation with Jamie Alvis after yesterday's practice:
http://www.illinihq.com/podcasts/illini_sports/2008/08/27/454

For more coverage of Illinois Soccer, check out my blog:
http://www.illinihq.com/blogs/molines_musings

Unforeseen downturn for Illinois this season. There is still the tournament as a chance to salvage a tournament berth, but to what do you attribute the run of bad results?

Rob,

The short answer is "shots on frame." The Penn State game from Friday night is a good example. Rayfield sets a goal of getting 8 or more shots on goal in each game. Friday night, the shot numbers were pretty even overall (17-15 PSU), but Illinois only got two shots on frame. It was magnified Friday because of the wet and cool conditions. Tough for the keepers to make clean saves. Especially for a true freshman keeper that Penn State had to put out there because Naeher was training with the U-20's.

Before bouncing back on Sunday against Ohio State, the Illini had been shut out in four straight games, three of them on the road. With the exception of the Penn State game, they outshot their opponents in all of them, but also fell well short of the eight SOG that Rayfield wants.

The early season results show that Illinois has players capable of finishing, but I think without Masar they haven't had that one player they know they can count on game in and game out. The drought started to weigh on them a bit, and they looked a little tight around the goal.

Just my rambling thoughts...hope they provide a little insight.