Touching all the Bases

Making a point

Posted by: Jeff Huth

Thursday, October 16, 2008 2:34 PM

Following consecutive road losses last weekend, you had to wonder whether the Illini women's soccer team would remain ranked. The answer came Tuesday, when Illinois did take a mighty tumble in the NSCAA/adidas poll - down nine spots.
That drop wasn't enough, however, to end the Illini's perfect record of being ranked in every poll this season. At No. 25, the streak remains intact.
What can we discern from this?
Certainly that the coaches who vote in this poll continue to have a high regard for Illinois, regardless of its lost weekend. And that's completely justified. In the wake of a difficult schedule heavy on road trips, the Illini were 9-4-0 and No. 14 in the NCAA's RPI before stumbling at Iowa and current No. 23 Minnesota.
Then there's the fact that Illinois hardly got blown out last weekend. Both defeats were by 1-0 scores. The Illini were competitive, if not successful.
The disturbing part of the lost weekend, of course, is Illinois' continuing struggles to put the ball in the net. In three of their last five matches, the Illini have been shut out. In a fourth, they managed one goal.
In the process, Illinois is wasting some terrific defensive performances. In those same five matches, the Illini allowed three goals. Total. Yet, they had a 2-3 record in that span.
Scoring problems are not a recent issue. In its 15 matches this season, Illinois has a grand total of 19 goals and is ranked 10th in the 11-team Big Ten in goal-scoring average at  1.27.
The Illini defense is so good that Janet Rayfield's team doesn't need to be an offensive juggernaut to be successful. Not when the Illini have permitted more than one goal only twice - yes, twice! - this season.
But if Illinois can't find a way to start generating more scoring, even that marvelous defense won't be enough to take this team where it wants to go in the NCAA tournament.

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