PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Illinois Tech erupted for five goals in a span of just over 11 minutes in the first half and the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference's power program defeated the Lakeland University women's soccer team was defeated 7-1 Wednesday night at John Taylor Memorial Field.
The Scarlet Hawks continued their dominance in the NACC, extended their winning streak in league play to 26 games and their unbeaten streak in conference to 49 games. Lakeland did achieve the distinction of being just the third NACC team to score a goal on Illinois Tech this season while dropping to 3-9 overall and 2-5 in conference.
The Muskies got off to an encouraging start, holding the Scarlet Hawks scoreless for more than 13 minutes to start the game. Lakeland even had an opportunity to take the lead when
Malaya Sperber (
Jr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) fired a hard shot from 20 yards out that Tech goalkeeper Kayla Hampton had to make a diving save on in the 13th minute.
Illinois Tech broke through just over a minute later, though, with Olivia Roy finishing off a corner kick by Tvesa Vathulya, and the floodgates opened soon after. The Scarlet Hawks four more goals by the 26th minute, all by different players, and Grace Yager's run from nearly three-quarters field to score gave IIT a 5-0 lead at 25:09 of the match.
Illinois Tech added one more goal in the first half in the 34th minute and took a 6-0 lead into halftime. Lakeland regrouped in the second half, though, and played the guests on even terms. The Scarlet Hawks scored in the 60th minute when Kaitlyn Walsh became the seventh different player to score in the game, but would not score again the rest of the way.
The Muskies even got a goal back in the 65th minute.
Madie Linka (
Sr.-Somerset, Wis.) set a ball through from the midfield to Sperber, who took two touches, angled left and drilled a shot past second Tech goalkeeper Emmy Anderson and inside the right post for her sixth goal of the season.
Illinois Tech finished with a 37-2 advantage in shot attempts.
Ingrid Steinbock (
Jr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) was busy all game but played a nearly flawless second half and tied her career high with 16 saves.
Lakeland is back on the road Saturday, traveling to face Rockford University at 1 p.m. in Rockford, Ill. The Muskies begin a road-heavy final stretch of the season that will include five of the team's final six regular season games away from home.
