SEATTLE, Wash. --- After an evenly played match that remained scoreless for most of the afternoon, Illinois was awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute, and Jannelle Flaws converted it to hand the Illini a 1-0 win over the Portland Pilots at the Husky Nike Invitational at Husky Soccer Stadium on Sunday. The Pilots (1-4-0) will next return home to host the 2015 version of the Nike Portland Invitational next weekend.
 
The Pilots defended well during the first 45 minutes and Portland had the game's first decent scoring chance when they earned a corner in the 18th minute. Allison Wetherington sent in a ball towards the far post, and Alyssa Edenstrom just missed with a header that was wide by inches.
 
The Pilots continued to put together quality possession and Parkes Kendrick made an immediate impact after she entered the match in the 41st minute. The junior midfielder found herself with possession inside the box, but her shot from near the left post was denied by Illinois (5-1-0) keeper Claire Wheatley, who managed to get a touch on it to keep the score level.
 
Neither team could find the back of the net for most of the second half as the Pilots continued to defend well and forced the Illini into settling for shots from distance that never seriously threatened the UP frame. At the other end, Noelle La Prevotte had a shot saved in the 60th minute. La Prevotte couldn't quite get a clean strike as she was trying to fight off a defender, and moments later the senior hit one wide right from 18 yards out.
 
The game remained scoreless until the Pilots were called for a foul inside the box with about nine minutes remaining in regulation. Flaws stepped to the spot and slotted one into the left corner of the net to make it 1-0. Portland tried to find the equalizer in the game's closing minutes, but Illinois held on to preserve the win.
 
Freshman goalie Rachel Lusby finished with six saves for the Pilots and the PK was really the only dangerous chance all day for the Illini, who got a pair of stops from Wheatley. Portland finished with a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.
 
The Nike Portland Invitational at Merlo Field will feature the Washington Huskies, Cal State Northridge Matadors and UC Irvine Anteaters. The Huskies and Matadors kickoff the Invite at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, which will be followed by the Pilots and Anteaters at 7 p.m.
 
Sunday features UW and UC Irvine at 12 p.m. and the Pilots and CSUN at 2:30 p.m.