June 27, 2008
2008 Schedule
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois women's soccer head coach Janet Rayfield announced her team's schedule for the 2008 season on Friday. The Fighting Illini will face eight opponents that qualified for the 2007 NCAA tournament, including five that finished the season nationally ranked.
"Once again we are trying to challenge ourselves with our non-conference schedule and I think we face an especially tough road schedule prior to the Big Ten season," Rayfield said. "We will test our team with their ability to compete away from home on successive weekends and that will be great preparation for the Big Ten and for postseason."
The team opens the season with a challenging collection of non-conference opponents followed by a rigorous Big Ten slate. Illinois kicks off its regular season on Saturday, August 23 at Missouri before hosting Iowa State, Pitt and Dayton in the Illini Challenge Cup presented by Gameday Spirit. The Orange and Blue will face the Cyclones in the first round of the tournament on Friday, August 29, with Pitt and Dayton also squaring off at the Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium. The loser of each match will play in a consolation game on Sunday, August 31 while the winners will follow in a championship game to wrap up the tournament.
The Illini hit the road for the first time in the 2008 season for the First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. Illinois will face Washington State and West Virginia, which made the Elite Eight of the 2007 NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual national champion USC. The Orange and Blue continue the tough road stint as they head to Florida where the Gators seek revenge after the Illini handed then-No. 9 Florida a 1-0 loss last season. The Illini conclude their non-conference road season at UCF before returning home to host Colorado College and Washington in their final non-conference matches.
Illinois kicks off the Big Ten portion of the season on the road against Wisconsin and Northwestern then returns home to host Michigan State and Michigan. The Illini follow with three straight road games at Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana before concluding the season at home against Penn State, Ohio State and Purdue. Illinois' last four conference games could be a tough stretch, as all four Big Ten opponents qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2007, with Penn State and Purdue finishing the season ranked No. 12 and No. 16, respectively, and Indiana advancing to the Round of 16.
"Our home schedule is exciting this year especially with the Big Ten teams that will be coming to town," Rayfield said. "The Big Ten season always comes down to the final weekends and to have Penn State, Ohio State and Purdue at home those last two weekends could mean incredible excitement for our fans. We hope we build that excitement throughout the season and end the year with some of the largest crowds in Big Ten women's soccer."
The Illini will use the rigorous schedule in seeking their 11th straight Big Ten Tournament appearance and sixth straight NCAA Tournament berth. The conference tournament will be held in Iowa City, Iowa, Nov. 6-9. The NCAA Tournament begins Nov. 14-16 with first and second round action, while the College Cup will take place Dec. 5-7 in Cary, N.C.
