Offense Can't Make up Ground in 2-1 Loss to Illinois State

NORMAL, Ill. – Kansas failed to come from behind Sunday afternoon, in Normal, Ill., falling 2-1 to Illinois State (3-2) at Adelaide Street Field.

Emily Cressy cut the Redbirds’ 2-0 lead in half with goal in the 83rd minute, giving the Jayhawks a chance to tie it up. KU was able to get another quick shot off and controled the ball in the final minutes of the game but ran out of time in the end.

Whitney Berry, Caitlin Noble and Madi Hillis each tallied a shot as well. Berry assisted on Cressy’s goal.

Just two days after knocking off nationally-ranked Northwestern, the Jayhawk offense struggled to get the ball, getting out-shot 18-4. The Redbirds went up 2-0 in the first period with Jessica Carlson scoring both goals.

Carlson beat the defense to a loose ball in front of the net in the 21st minute to give Illinois State a 1-0 lead. Right before halftime, Carlson headed one in, leaving KU with ground to make up in the second half.

KU’s offense started to create momentum late in the game. Hillis nearly had her first career goal in the 80th minute when she got her foot on a loose ball but the ball missed a few inches left. Cressy found the net with just seven minutes left to play with a shot from inside the box on the left side.

The loss ended a two-game Chicago-area swing that saw the Jayhawks go 1-1. KU is now 1-2 on the road in 2010 and will finish out its five-match road trip next weekend in Las Vegas, Nev., at the UNLV Rebel Classic.

Kansas will first face Cal State Northridge in a Friday afternoon contest before taking on Oregon Sunday, Sept., 12.