WESTFIELD, Ind. — An Illinois own goal was the difference in Friday's Big Ten tournament semifinal against top-seeded Penn State.
Penn State's Kim Dubs played a ball behind the Illinois defense in the 66th minute, and it was deflected into the goal by Illini center back Alicia Barker in the Nittany Lions' 1-0 victory at Grand Park in Westfield.
Penn State out-shot Illinois 18-10 thanks to a run of scoring chances from the midway point of the first half to the own goal, but the Illini had opportunities. Illinois had perhaps its three best scoring chances in a four-minute pan in the second half with shots by Kelly Maday, Katie Murray and Peyton Willie.