Illinois...

...is 2-2-0 on the season

...is seeing major contributions from the freshman class

...is returning eight of last season's key players

...is ranked second in the Big Ten for its 5.5 saves per game

SCOUTING THE HORNED FROGS

TCU is 3-0-0 on the season, with victories over Maryland, Navy and Lamar. The Horned Frogs have scored nine goals this season, six of them coming in a shutout at Lamar. Friday's contest will be the first home game for TCU this season. TCU senior Michelle Prokof  leads the team with three goals and an assist, she is coming off of a junior season where she tallied nine goals and 21 points. 

SCOUTING THE AGGIES

Ranked No. 14 in the country, Texas A&M is 2-2-0 on the season coming off of a 2-0 victory over Tulsa. The Aggies have fallen to No. 15 UCLA and No. 1 Florida State this season. Texas A&M returns nine starters from the 2015 campaign inlcuding All-American, Mikaela Harvey. The Aggies are currently led by Haley Pounds who's netted three goals.

 LAST TIME OUT

The Illini headed to Missouri for the first road trip of the season, taking on both Mizzou and Saint Louis. Despite goals from Patricia George and Kara Marbury, the Illini could not overcome Missouri as the Tigers converted a penalty kick in the first overtime period. Saint Louis also topped the Illini using a penalty kick, as the Billikens were awarded the shot in the fourth minute of the game. Saint Louis put the pressure on and was able to hold off the Illini for the remainder of the match. 

A TOUGH ROAD AHEAD

The Illini are not taking the easy road this season. Illinois will face six opponents listed among the NSCAA Preseason Rankings, including No. 2 Penn State and No. 8 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 Aggies and TCU. Illinois will also face No. 10 Rutgers in Piscataway, looking to upset the ranked squad once again this season. 

D'ADDARIO'S HELPING HAND

Senior Hope D'Addario has racked up three assists so far this season, already nearing her total of five from last year. Her three assists rank 14th in the nation and lead the Big Ten. She is tied with Michigan's Reilley Martin and Rutgers' Nicole Whitely. 

A FAMILIAR FACE

It will be a blast from the past this weekend as the Illini will see a familiar face at TCU. Horned Frogs head coach Eric Bell is a former Illini assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Bell was with the Illini from 2002-05.  

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, and earns the first weekly honor of her career.

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, the Illini were receiving votes in last week's 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 will appear live on Big Ten Network on Thursday, Sept. 22 against Maryland. The game is slated to start at 6 p.m. CT 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 will start the 2016 season with back to back home contests. 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 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.   

MAYDAY 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 230-147-33 with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in 19 seasons. Head coach Janet Rayfield (173-105-30) 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.