Keever's Two Goals Power Huskies To Victory

Thursday, August 24

Champaign, Ill.

5:00 PM

University of Washington

2-1-0

Illinois

1-2-0

Washington

Illinois

August 24, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – In the final match of a three-game road trip, the Washington Huskies earned a 2-1 win over the Illinois Fighting Illini thanks to two first-half goals from Kimberly Keever and dominant ball control. It was Keever's first two-goal game since September 20, 2015 against Gonzaga, when she potted two goals in a 35 seconds. The win puts Washington at 2-1-0 on the season with the home opener on tap this Sunday. Illinois is now 1-2-0.

Keever's scoring would start at 4:33 to put Washington up 1-0. Lauren Conley sent in a cross from out wide to Amanda Perez, who had crashed in close to the goal post. Perez was able to head the ball back to Keever, who had beat her defender back and calmly pushed the ball into the open net.

Conley and Keever combined for another golden opportunity with 28 minutes to go in the first half. Keever threaded a pass through traffic to find Conley at the other side of the goal. Unfortunately, Illinois' defense was able to clear the ball away just before it found Conley sliding toward the net.

Keever would score again two minutes later, making it 2-0 at 15:20. The senior flew past the defenders on a long pass from Shannon Simon, leaving only the goalie to beat. Keever then skipped past the diving goalie and waltzed to the open net for her second goal of the season.

Head coach Lesle Gallimore praised Keever's work on the field, saying that she "lays it out there, the amount of work that woman does in a 90-minute game is crazy and she just gives opposing teams fits."

A long throw spelled trouble for the Huskies in the 28^th minute with Illinois scoring its first and only goal of the match. The Illini were able to get a head on the ball as Shimer went up for it, bouncing it over the rest of the Husky defense to make it 2-1.

That 2-1 score would hold at halftime, with Washington outshooting Illinois 9-3. Keever had five shots alone in the first half, including a shot caught by the Illini goalie as the clock ran out on the first 45.

Washington's ball control continued to suffocate Illinois in the second half, pinning the Illini in the defensive end and threatening multiple times to extend the lead. Simon dribbled past two Illini defenders 60 minutes into the game and nearly found Perez slashing to the goal on a cross.

"It got a little ugly at times and our execution wasn't as good as it could have been trying to get that third goal and take off the anxiety," said Gallimore. "Illinois was good on the counter and to not allow more than a shot in the second half was impressive."

The Husky defense stood strong the rest of the way, allowing only one shot the final 45 minutes thanks in large part to strong ball control. Washington would record six shots of its own in that time. In total, the Huskies would outshoot Illinois 15-4.

Gallimore praised the defensive effort, especially in the second half. "Sam Kokoska really helped us hold the lead and shut down anything they had in the midfield," said Gallimore, who also singled out Perez and Simon for their working playing the ball around and "moving it to areas they weren't."

The Huskies return to Seattle for their home opener this Sunday at 12:30 pm PT. That match will pit the Huskies against the Southern Methodist Mustangs. Tickets for that game are available online.

Make sure to follow Husky women's soccer on Twitter with the username @UW_WSoccer and on Instagram at uw_wsoccer.