Jannelle Flaws has a five minute highlight reel on Youtube, which features all of her 23 goals from last season. In that highlight reel, she scores goals in almost every conceivable fashion. Whether she is catching a goalkeeper out of position with a 40-yard wonder strike, smashing in a free kick from distance, or creating her own space in the box before roofing a finish, one thing is certain, she is a goal scoring machine. Her 23 goals last season set a University of Illinois record and tied for the most in the nation. With 14 goals so far this season, she looks to be well on her way to shattering her own record.
The Illini recovered from their loss in the season opener against BR-7 Notre Dame with five consecutive victories. Flaws scored in three of those matches and notched an assist in another to continue her spectacular form. After a loss to BR-48 Iowa, the Illini rattled off another four consecutive victories, with Flaws scoring nine goals in those matches, while the squad only conceded a single goal to their opponents. Flaws was rewarded for her efforts by being named ESPN-W’s National Player of the Week. She has shown no signs of stopping.
The redshirt senior striker has displayed her goal scoring instincts throughout the early stages of this season. Flaws has scored in the Illini’s last five matches setting yet another school record with this feat. She currently averages over one goal per game. Her efforts have allowed Illinois to climb the rankings. They are now #14 in the HeroSports Top 25, despite a weekend loss to BR-6 Penn State. Four of their seven remaining opponents are ranked in the Top 50, meaning Flaws will need to stay at her best to keep the Illini in contention for the Big 10 Conference title.
Jannelle Flaws has overcome two serious injuries to her anterior cruciate ligament, which caused her to redshirt her freshman season and completely miss her sophomore season. Since returning to the pitch, she has displayed the killer instinct that has made her one of the most prolific goal scorers in Division 1 over the last two seasons. If Flaws continues the blistering pace she has set this season, she will overtake Tara Hurless’ 47 career goals as the school’s all-time leader in goals. Missing two years due to injury also makes her eligible to apply for a sixth year of eligibility, which could be bad news for her Big Ten opponents.
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