Brian Moline covers the Illinois soccer team on his blog here.

CHAMPAIGN – Freshman Shayla Mutz scored a pair of goals and Christina Sahly also connected as the Illinois soccer team closed out its nonconference slate with a 3-1 victory against Milwaukee.

The Illini (5-3-1) open Big Ten play next Sunday when they host Minnesota.

"I think we'll enter Big Ten play battle-tested. We need to get ourselves physically and psychologically ready, but our tough nonconference schedule should pay off."

Mutz scored in the sixth minute, but the Panthers evened the match before halftime.

Sahly scored the winner off a feed from Julie Ewing in the 58th minute, and Mutz added an insurance tally in the 85th minute.

Illini keeper Alexandra Kapicka made two saves.

In men's tennis:

Nevolo impresses. The Illini wrapped up the third Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational on Sunday, compiling a 12-4 singles mark and 5-0 in doubles.

No. 24 Dennis Nevolo beat No. 79 Carl Sundberg of Miami 6-0, 6-3 for his second win against a ranked opponent.

Nevolo and Marek Czerwinski knocked off Florida State's seventh-ranked doubles team 8-6.

"I was very pleased with the composure of our players when they were down or in a tough situation," Illinois assistant coach Marcos Asse said. "They kept believing and I think the proof was in the results."