Illinois soccer stuns Kentucky with 2-1 road win, perfect 5-0 start intact

The Illini upset Kentucky on the road, snapping the Wildcats’ 19-match home win streak with a 2-1 victory.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Illinois soccer extended its unbeaten start with a 2-1 win over Kentucky on Sunday, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season and snapping a 19-match home winning streak.

Before 881 fans at the Bell Soccer Complex, the Illini (5-0-0) scored twice in the first half and held firm defensively to secure the program’s best start since 2004.

Fighting Illini Sports Kentucky (5-1-0) struck first just two minutes into the contest when a deflected shot off an Illinois defender slipped past keeper Izzy Lee. It marked the first goal the Illini had allowed this season.

Illinois responded quickly. In the 17th minute, Ashley Stellon forced a turnover deep in Kentucky’s end and found Cayla Jackson wide open in the box. Jackson delivered, drilling a shot inside the right post to even the score.

The eventual game-winner came in the 43rd minute when Ellen Persson rose for a header off a Stellon corner kick. The goal, Persson’s first of the season and second of her career, gave Illinois a 2-1 lead it would not relinquish. Stellon finished with two assists, her third and fourth career helpers.

Lee anchored the back line with seven saves against Kentucky’s 19 total shots, including a diving stop in the 80th minute on a strike from distance that nearly tied the match.

Despite being outshot 19-7 and conceding an 8-4 edge in shots on goal, Illinois made the most of its chances to remain perfect under first-year coach Katie Hultin. She joins Tricia Taliaferro (1999) as the only Illinois coaches to begin their tenures with five straight wins.

The victory also marked Kentucky’s first home loss since Oct. 15, 2023, when the Wildcats fell 2-0 to Mississippi State. The last time Kentucky lost at home to a non-conference opponent was Sept. 22, 2019, against Central Michigan.

Illinois returns to action Thursday at Missouri, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. CT. The Illini are back at Demirjian Park on Sunday, Sept. 7, for Senior Day against Valparaiso at 1 p.m.

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Letter to the Editor |
Don't Increase Hunger

Dear Editor,

The new administration has now cut billions of dollars from food stamps (SNAP) in the budget. This is cruel. This will take food away from the hungry, including children and senior citizens. We have a government out to starve its own people, take medical care away from the sick and perpetrate other evils. They must be stopped.

According to our state legislators, Illinois cannot possibly make up for the billions taken away. Non-profit food pantries will be stretched to their limits.

In 2023, 13.8 million children lived in households that experienced food insecurity, up 3.2 percent from 2022, according to the Food Research and Action Center (frac.org). Taking billions out of food assistance will worsen these already intolerable numbers.

Where will these people go? Possibly many will go begging on the streets or turn to worse to support their families. This in a country that used to claim to be generous and compassionate.

Why are they doing this? Because they believe that most (maybe all) the recipients are scamming the system. Even if true, their sledge hammer approach affects everyone indiscriminately. Instead investigate what the real situation is. Improve the vetting process. Don't hurt the needy.

They should visit soup kitchens such as the one where I volunteered and note the number of people for whom the meal we served was the only meal they had that day.

We must stop this outrage to humanity. If you have any compassion, please, please contact your congressman as soon as possible and demand that he/she work to roll back these cruel, un-American cuts.

Anthony Buttitta
Des Plaines

Anthony Buttitta is a 21-year resident from Des Plaines. He enjoys the sense of community that comes from being close to people and supporting local, independent businesses. Success comes from maintaining a positive, confident attitude and trusting in God.

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