Illinois...

...is coming off of a victory 3-1 over Michigan State

...topped No. 19 Michigan 3-1 last Thursday

...is 79-57-18 all-time in Big Ten play

...has seen eight players score at least one goal this season

...has shutout five opponents this year

...is led in assists by Hope D'Addario (5)

...senior Claire Wheatley earned B1G Defensive Player of the Week honors

LAST TIME OUT

The Illini had a great weekend against No. 19 Michigan and Michigan State. The team totaled six goals over two games, shutting out the Wolverines and topping the Spartans, 3-1. Senior Claire Wheatley grabbed eight saves against Michigan, and earned her second shutout of the season against Michigan State. Senior Regan Robishaw carded two goals over the weekend, including the game winner over Michigan, while sophomore Patricia George netted two goals herself, both against Michigan State. 

SCOUTING THE HUSKERS

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will host Illinois on Thursday, coming off of a loss at No. 17 Minnesota. The Huskers are 3-3-1 in Big Ten play and have netted 22 goals this season. The Huskers are led by Jaycie Johnson, who has scored nine of those goals this year. Haley Hanson has added six goals to that total. Sydney Miramontez leads the team in assists as she has dished out seven this season. 

SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES

Iowa will host Illinois on Sunday, after a Thursday night match against Northwestern. The Hawkeyes earned their only Big Ten victory over Purdue, and are coming off of losses at Minnesota and Wisconsin. Iowa averages 14 shots per game and has posted 22 goals this season. Brie Toelle and Karly Stuenkel lead the Hawkeyes in scoring. 

WHEATLEY'S WEEKLY HONORS

Senior Claire Wheatley was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 11 after helping the Orange and Blue to wins over No. 19 Michigan and Michgian State. Wheatley grabbed eight saves against Michigan to earn her second shutout of the season, and she added two more against Michigan State. Wheatley is second all-time at Illinois for her 281 career saves. 

BY GEORGE

Sophomore Patricia George had quite the day against Michigan State. She netted two goals in the match, including the game winner over the Spartans. George leads Illinois with three goals this year, and has also tallied two assists. She leads the team with eight points overall. 

D'ADDARIO'S HELPING HAND

Senior Hope D'Addario has racked up five assists so far this season, matching her total from the 2015 season. That number puts her in a tie for third in the Big Ten. 

SCHAFER SCORES

Senior Summer Schafer netted her first career goal this season, lifting Illinois over Morehead State. She didn't stop there, however, also scoring the game-winner against Evansville. Schafer's two game-winning goals are tied for third in the Big Ten.

SPREADING THINGS OUT

The Illini have spread the scoring out this season as eight players have netted at least one goal. Sophomore Patricia George leads the team with three goals, while seniors Allison Stucky, Summer Schafer and Reagan Robishaw join junior Kara Marbury with two apiece. Nine players have each taken 10 or more shots this season, while George leads the team with 12 shots on goal so far. 

A TOUGH ROAD

The Illini have not taken the easy road this season. Illinois has faced several ranked opponents, including No. 16 Penn State and No. 14 Texas A&M. The squad started the year on a challenging road trip to Missouri and Saint Louis before heading to Texas to face the No. 14 Aggies and TCU. Illinois will also took on No. 22 Rutgers in Piscataway and hosted No. 19 Michigan. 

DENLEY EARNS WEEKLY HONORS

Fighting Illini senior Michelle Denley earned the first weekly conference honor of her career on Aug. 23 as she was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The Oakville, Ontario, native earned her first career shutout against Morehead State before grabbing a career-high 10 saves against Illinois State on Aug. 21. She made a major play for the Illini against the Redbirds, denying a penalty kick attempt in the second half of the game. Denley played all 90 minutes in both of the weekends' matches.

STARTING WITH SHUTOUTS

Illinois kicked off the year on a high note, shutting out both Morehead State and Illinois State last weekend. Illini seniors Summer Schafer and Alia Abu-Douleh both scored their first career goals in this year's season opener, while senior Allison Stucky netted the game winner against Illinois State. Several newcomers saw their first collegiate action over the weekend, including defender Alicia Barker who earned the start in both matches. The two shutouts ranked Denley at the top of the Big Ten to start the year.

ILLINOIS IN THE RANKINGS

Illinois made its way into the NSCAA Women's Rankings to open the season, as the Illini were receiving votes in the week one poll.  The Orange and Blue last appeared in the poll during the 2014 season, appearing for three consecutive weeks (Week 4-6), entering the poll at No. 22 on Sept. 16 and checking in at No. 19 the following two weeks before dropping out of the Top 25.

EXHIBITION VICTORY

Fighting Illini soccer kicked off the 2016 season with a 1-0 exhibition victory over nationally-ranked Notre Dame on Sunday, Aug. 14. The only goal in the game came from Illini senior Hope D'Addario, who dropped a free kick just beyond the Notre Dame goalkeeper in the second half. The Illini were strong on the offense, firing nine shots to Notre Dame's five, and putting five on goal. The Fighting Irish put just one shot on frame, saved by freshman Jaelyn Cunningham late in the second half. Five Illini newcomers saw action on the field, including Alicia Barker, who earned the start for the Orange and Blue.

B1G PRESEASON HONORS

Three Illini were named to the Big Ten Conference Preseason Honors List, as announced by the Big Ten Conference. Seniors Hope D'Addario and Taylore Peterson join junior Kara Marbury on the conference's honor list. The Preseason Honors List is decided upon by the league's coaches and is composed of 42 student-athletes. The league also announced the 2016 Preseason Women's Soccer Poll, where the Illini checked in at No. 9 on the list. Coming in at No. 1 is Defending National and Big Ten Champion, Penn State, who the Illini will see on Sept. 30.

ILLINOIS ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK

The Illini soccer team appeared live on Big Ten Network on Thursday, Sept. 22 against Maryland in College Park, Maryland. BTN will also air the Big Ten Tournament beginning Oct. 30 and continuing through the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 6.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

Illinois has been strong on its home turn this season, shutting out three opponents in non-conference play. The Illini limited Morehead State to just three shots, and also held Miami (OH), Evansville, Purdue and Indiana to single-digit shots in consecutive games. Last season the Orange and Blue were dominant on their home turf, outscoring opponents 21-11. Illinois held four opponents to single-digit shots at home, and took 45 corner kicks to its opponents' 29. 

ILLINOIS ONLINE

All nine of Illinois' regular season home contests will be live streamed on one of two platforms. The four non-conference home games, in addition to senior night against Wisconsin, will be streamed for free on FIGHTINGILLINI.com, while Illinois' games versus Purdue, Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State will be streamed on BTN+. On the road, Illinois at Rutgers, at Iowa and at Nebraska will also air on BTN+.

SUMMER SOCCER

Several Illini stayed quite busy over the summer, playing for their local WPSL teams. Sophomore Katie Murray played for the Dayton Dutch Lions, tallying a goal and an assist for the squad. Senior Allison Stucky spent her summer with AF Cleveland, while Katherine and Caroline Ratz played for FC Pride in Indiana. Stucky also netted one goal and an assist while Katherine Ratz carded a goal. 

ILLINI ADD SEVEN NEWCOMERS

The Illinois roster will have an interesting look this season with the addition of seven newcomers. The newcomers will be led by an experienced upper class, composed mainly of 11 graduating seniors. The 2016 signing class includes Alicia Barker (Woodville, Wash.), Alexandra Carrier (Cincinnati, Ohio), Jaelyn Cunningham (Reynoldsburg, Ohio), Taylor Haynes (Rowlett, Texas), Kelly Maday (Winnetka, Ill.), Lauren Smitherman (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Arianna Veland (Elkhorn, Neb.). "I am confident that the class of 2016 is going to have an impact on this program, make a difference in the athletic department and leave a positive mark on this campus," Rayfield said of the new members of the Illinois soccer program. "These seven young women have great individual personalities, high academic standards, and lofty athletic aspirations. I am excited about the contributions they will make on the field, but I also know we have a class that understands the core values of our program, that are committed to those values, and that will be great representatives of Illinois Athletics.

RAYFIELD LEADS U23 USWNT

Head Coach Janet Rayfield had a busy summer in 2016, as she served as head coach of the U-23 US Women's National Team. Rayfield led the squad to a victory at the Nordic Tournament in England. The U-23 squad topped both Sweden (3-1) and Norway (2-1) before clinching the tournament victory with a 1-1 draw against England.   

MADAY NAMED GATORADE POY 

The Illini freshman, Kelly Maday, was named Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year prior to coming to Champaign. Maday was not only active in New Trier High School's soccer program, but she volunteered at her local homeless shelter and as a youth soccer coach. Maday is a junior board member of Misericordia also, which is a home for people with developmental and physical abilities. The Gatorade State Girls Soccer Players of the Year were selected based not only on athletic production for the 2015-16 season, but also on academic achievement and exemplary personal character.

STIRRETT ADDED TO ILLINI STAFF

A Champaign native, Nick Stirrett joined the Fighting Illini staff in March of 2016. Stirrett will work with the team's goalkeepers and take on the role of recruiting coordinator for the Illini. He comes to Illinois after spending the past season with the Penn State women's soccer program.

NSCAA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Fighting Illini Soccer head coach Janet Rayfield was recognized as the 2015 NSCAA Women's Soccer Award of Excellence recipient, as announced by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) on Thursday, Dec. 3. This award is presented by the NSCAA Women's Membership Advocacy Group and sponsored by the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS).

ALL-TIME WINS COUNTER

Since becoming a varsity sport in 1997, the University of Illinois women's soccer team has compiled an overall record of 233-154-34 with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in 19 seasons. Head coach Janet Rayfield (176-112-31) is responsible for 74-percent of those wins and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in her 14 seasons at the helm.

UI NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Illinois has played in the NCAA Tournament 12 times in 19 seasons and are 11-12-3 all-time in tournament action. UI's top finish was the Elite Eight during the 2004 season, while they also reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2006, 2008 and 2013.