Illinois Soccer upsets #3 Duke for first win of season

Illinois Soccer didn’t see much success in a 5-14 campaign last season, and continued that skid earlier this week in a 3-1 loss to No. 6 North Carolina in its season opener in Chapel Hill.

But now the wins are coming, and the first one was big, an upset over No. 3 Duke on the road.

Junior goalie Jaelyn Cunningham came up with a few huge saves in the second half to stave off a Duke comeback in the Illini’s 2-1 win.

The Blue Devils got off to a quick start with a goal 15 minutes in, but the Illini responded with a goal Makena Silber two minutes later. Illinois took the lead on a Patricia George corner kick that was deflected by a Blue Devil defender into the net, and the Illini never looked back.

Illinois continues its season-opening road trip against DePaul on Thursday before returning home to Illinois Soccer Stadium on Sunday, August 26 vs. Northern Illinois.