CHICAGO – The University of Chicago women's soccer team secured a milestone win for Head Coach Amy Reifert on Thursday night, as the home team defeated Illinois Institute of Technology 3-0 on the Stagg Field turf.

Reifert became the tenth women's soccer coach in NCAA Division III history to reach 400 career wins. She boasts an overall record of 400-171-55 in 34 years as a collegiate head coach (.683 winning percentage). Reifert took over the UChicago women's soccer program in 1991 after spending three seasons at Knox College.

The No. 13-ranked Maroons improved their season record to 12-1-2. The Scarlet Hawks fell to 11-5-1.

Thursday's primetime action got off to a slow start. UChicago maintained possession for large chunks of time, but couldn't quite find the final pass or run at goal to break through. Illinois Tech had several dangerous counters that popped up; however, shots on goal were not forthcoming.

With seven minutes left in the first half, UChicago pounced on a golden opportunity. A cross into the top of the box was not cleared far enough away, which allowed sophomore Annabelle Pham to volley a perfect backheel pass up the gut to wide-open Hannah Rittenhouse. The junior wasted little time in beating the goalkeeper 1v1 to give the Maroons the lead.

The margin doubled in the 56th minute. Senior Peyton Jefferson made a quick move up the right sideline and dribbled fast to the right side of the box. Her cross attempt to the front bounced off the goalkeeper's hands and straight to the feet of the waiting senior, Nicole Kaspi. She promptly deposited her eight goal of the year.

Illinois Tech needed to make a pair of point-blank saves by the goalie and by a defender at the goal line in the 62nd minute. But UChicago would not be denied for long. At the 66:19 mark, senior Maddie DeVoe bounced off a defender, spun and fed Rittenhouse the centering pass. The Maroon junior reached back and chipped the ball inside the right post for her team-leading 13th score of the year.

The visitors' best chance to break up the shutout came at 72:56. A rising blast from 22 yards out was knocked over the crossbar on a leaping play by UChicago first-year goalkeeper Sophie Pilarski. But that would be the last good chance for IIT and the Maroons salted the game away to pick up the 3-0 win.

The final box score saw UChicago hold significant advantages in shots (14-5) and corner kicks (9-3). Senior goalkeeper Miranda Malone got the win with a clean sheet in the first half. She was relieved by Pilarski after halftime, with the rookie registering two saves. The Maroon defense has now totaled 10 shutouts so far this season.

NEXT GAME:

• Friday, Oct. 29 @ 5:00 PM (ET) – UChicago at Case Western Reserve University