CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois soccer squad showed its agility and aggressiveness against Gonzaga during the 2011 season opener at Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium, coming away victorious, 5-1, over the Bulldogs on Friday evening. Senior Marissa Mykines and sophomore Vanessa DiBernardo paced the Illini attack, with each recording four points on the game. DiBernardo tallied two goals, including the game-winner, while Mykines added a goal and assisted on two others during the rout. 

“We have to walk away pleased with the chances we created after going into the game focused on creating chances,” Illinois head coach Janet Rayfield said. “This week we talked about focusing on doing just that, and if we could get to the point of creating them then we could take the next step on attack. After tonight, we are ready for that next step.”

The Illini earned their first tally of the season only 14 minutes into the initial half, with DiBernardo notching the mark to break the scoreless tie. The Naperville, Ill., native earned a cross from Mykines and fired a shot past Bulldogs goalkeeper, Susan Brown, into the top-right corner of the net. Illinois continued to threaten throughout the reminder of the first half, keeping pressure on the Gonzaga defense through on-target passes and constant motion to earn an 18-4 advantage in shots through 45 minutes of action, though the Illini were unable to increase their lead.

However, the pressure paid off considerably throughout the second half, as Illinois (1-0 overall) doubled its lead only 10 minutes into the final frame, with DiBernardo earning her second goal of the contest. DiBernardo recovered a ball in the middle of Gonzaga’s half of the field, dribbled on net and fired a 20-yard shot into the lower-left corner for the eventual game-winner. The Illini padded their lead with a third goal only nine minutes later, with Mykines getting on the board with the mark. The Mead High School graduate took a pass from junior Niki Read and redirected it on net with a well-placed header attempt. Brown was able to get her fingertips on the shot, but could not corral the loose ball before it fell into the back of the goal.

Gonzaga (0-1) cut into the Orange and Blue advantage with a goal at the 62:32 mark. Katey Pennington pushed a short, looping pass into the box, with Tori Lee placing a header shot over the outstretched gloves of Illinois’ starting goalkeeper, Steph Panozzo. However, after 18 minutes of scoreless play, the Illini turned the contest into a rout with two more goals as the second half came to a close.

Read upped the Illinois lead to three on a header into the bottom-right corner following a long crossing pass by Mykines with nine minutes left, while senior Julie Ewing converted the final goal of the contest five minutes later. At the 85:45 mark, Ewing dribbled into the top of the goalie box, stopping just inside the line. As the Gonzaga defense closed on Ewing, the Batavia, Ill., native flicked a shot attempt on goal, which deflected off a Gonzaga player’s leg and bounced over Brown to cap scoring.

“Having so many people involved on the attack was one of the bright spots of the night and why the expectations are to get a lot of people involved, stepping up to play offensively and defensively,” Rayfield said. “Everybody in the midfield and attack worked to get involved and to make things happen. Tonight was certainly a collective effort.”

Illinois outpaced Gonzaga throughout the contest, using its speed and technical abilities to continuously pressure the Bulldogs from every position on the field and keep possession in the attacking half. Illinois outshot Gonzaga, 31-6 and earned 10 corner kicks to the Bulldogs’ three. Brown made 12 saves in net, while Panozzo stopped one shot for the Fighting Illini.

The Orange and Blue return to action at Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 21, facing the Toledo Rockets at 1 p.m. Admission to all home soccer contests is free.