Aug. 3, 2011
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois soccer program opened its 2011 preseason schedule with its first official team practice at the Irwin Indoor Facility on Wednesday. Illini head coach Janet Rayfield began training camp with one of two scheduled fitness tests before transitioning into technical and position-specific drills.
"The first day of pre-season is always exciting, but after all my experiences during this World Cup summer I have been even more anxious to get things underway," Rayfield said. "I always see the things we can improve on during the first day - we can be fitter, we can be quicker, we can be better technically - but today I also saw our strengths and where our talent shines. I am consumed with thoughts of how we can take those and accomplish great things - [U.S. National Team head coach] Pia Sundhage's influence I am sure!"
The Orange and Blue began their preseason routines with morning and afternoon practice sessions, allowing the Illini student-athletes to complete the necessary fitness work while also familiarizing themselves with a few of the drills Rayfield will make use of throughout the season.
"It is exciting to be back at it on campus with all of these girls again," senior defenseman Julie Ewing said. "It is a new year with a new team and we are ready to get after it."
Illinois returns its top four scoring threats in sophomores Vanessa DiBernardo and Megan Pawloski and juniors Shayla Mutz and Niki Read - with these four Illini accounting for 59 points on 22 goals and 15 assists during 2010. DiBernardo earned the Big Ten Freshman of the Year following the 2010 regular season, as the Naperville, Ill., native led the conference with 11 goals and 27 points. Pawloski served as an instant offensive threat off the bench in each contest in 2010, scoring five goals and tallying two assists in only 841 minutes of action. Classmates Read and Mutz teamed up to secure clutch goals as Illinois fought for and secured yet another NCAA Tournament bid. Mutz netted the game-winning goal in overtime against Iowa, while Read added the deciding marks at No. 17 Ohio State and on Senior Night against Northwestern.
On defense, three student-athletes who saw considerable time as part of and greatly impacted Illinois' lockdown 2010 backline return as well. Ewing, redshirt sophomore Christina Farrell and sophomore Kassidy Brown each played at least 750 minutes in 2010 as Illinois held opponents to the second-fewest goals, 16, in a single season in program history. Ewing started all 19 games last year, finishing as one of only two Illini with 1,700 minutes on the season. Farrell and Brown split time at an outside defensive role, with Farrell closing out the season as the starter once Brown suffered a knee injury at Wisconsin on Oct. 10.
Eight newcomers joined Illinois' returning players at preseason camp, including seven freshmen and sophomore walk-on Allie Osoba. While Osoba began training with the Illini during the spring, the incoming group features talented athletes at each position on the field as six incoming players have competed in various Olympic Development Programs prior to arriving in Champaign. A versatile and well-rounded class, the first-year players will be able to slot into numerous roles all over the field. Megan Green is capable of playing defense, midfield or forward, while Aliina Weykamp can fill backline duties as well as provide a presence in the midfield. Stephanie Pouse, Mackenzie Taylor and Lizzi Sanscrainte will add to the defensive abilities of the Illini while Katie Reed, Noelle Leary and Osoba are skilled as attacking players.
Following the conclusion of training camp and an exhibition contest at Missouri on Aug. 12, the Illini will begin the 2011 slate at home against former assistant coach and current Gonzaga Bulldogs assistant Billy Barmes on Friday, August 19 at 7 p.m. CT. The Orange and Blue will then conclude the home-opening weekend with a 1 p.m. CT game at Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium against Toledo University.
