Illinois...

...scored the first goal against Rutgers this season

...is coming off of a 3-1 victory over Indiana

...is 6-2-1 against Northwestern in Champaign

...is led in scoring by four different players

...goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham leads the B1G with 86 saves

...is led in shots by Kelly Maday (21)

...has a 238-164-35 all-time soccer record

THE 2017 CAMPAIGN

The Illini are in the midst of an exciting season, highlighted by seven opponents ranked or receiving votes among the 2016 final NSCAA Coaches Top 25. The Orange and Blue kicked off the 2017 campaign with three consecutive home games, and are returning to Illinois Soccer Stadium after a challenging, seven-game road stretch. Four of Illinois' opponents this season were also ranked among the NSCAA Preseason Top 25. 

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

Coming off of a 2-0 loss to Purdue, Northwestern is 3-2-1 in Big Ten play, boasting victories over Indiana, Maryland and Ohio State. The Wildcats are led in scoring by Kayla Sharples, who has netted three goals this season. Nine players have found the back of the net for Northwestern, and Marisa Viggiano leads the team with five assists. Northwestern has allowed 14 goals from its opponents this season and averages just over 11 shots per game. 

LAST TIME OUT

Illinois split the weekend in Indiana, falling to Purdue, 1-0, on Thursday before topping Indiana, 3-1 on Sunday. Senior Kara Marbury netted her first two goals of the season in Sunday's match, and sophomore Kelly Maday posted the game-winner for the Orange and Blue. Sophomore goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham earned her first career save on Maday's goal, while freshman Katie Le also tallied hers, passing to Marbury for the third goal of the game. 

MURRAY MAKING MOVES

Junior Katie Murray has been making major strides for the Illini offense this season as she has taken 17 of Illinois' shots and leads the team with two goals scored. Murray netted Illinois' only goal against Rutgers on Sept. 22, also marking the first goal surrendered by the Scarlet Knights this year. 

Murray and the Illini were in a familiar situation against Rutgers as Illinois also netted the first goal-allowed by Rutgers in 2015.  On the same day of the month, September 24, 2015, then-junior Allison Stucky scored off of an Illini corner kick to score the first goal against No. 11-ranked Rutgers.

CAREER PERFORMANCE

Sophomore goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham had a record day at Penn State on Sept. 17, making a career-best 10 stops in the match. Her 10 saves on the day is the most for an Illini in a single game since Michelle Denley grabbed 10 saves against Illinois State on August 21, 2016. 

Cunningham is at the top of the Big Ten this season for her 86 saves on the year, a number that also ranks fourth in the country. Cunningham is averaging 6.1 saves per game to sit second among all players in the league. With just 25 more saves this season, Cunningham will match Illinois' single-season saves record (111) set by Leisha Alcia in 2004 and matched by Steph Panozzo in 2012. 

WINNING WEEKEND

Illinois boasted a successful nonconference weekend on the road, tallying victories at Evansville and Miami (OH). Sophomore Kelly Maday tallied her first career goal at Evansville, tying the game at one, while junior Morgan Maroney netted her first career goal to give Illinois the victory. Junior Patricia George fired the game-winning shot at Miami, as her shot was deflected off the Miami goalkeeper and again off of a Miami defender and into the goal.  Illinois outshot both opponents and led in corner kicks on the weekend. The consecutive wins improved Illinois' record to 3-3-0. 

PRESSURING PSU

The Illini had a tall task at Penn State on Sept. 17, facing a top-10 opponent on the road. Not too tall for the Orange and Blue, however, as Illinois forced Penn State into overtime for the first time this season. The Illinois defensive line and goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham held Penn State without a goal for more than 109 minutes in the match, which marks the longest drought for PSU in a game this season. UI has gone into OT against the Nittany Lions just five times in program history.

MARBURY'S DEBUT

Illini senior Kara Marbury made her 2017 season debut against Evansville, firing a team-leading five shots in the match. She added another five shots against Miami, putting three on frame. Marbury earned the start in both games, and is among team leaders with her 18 total shots this season. 

Marbury once again had a breakout game against Indiana, scoring her first two goals of the season in Bloomington. Marbury netted the first goal of the match in the 26th minute of play, before helping to secure Illinois' victory in the 87th minute. 

ILLINI IN THE AIR

The Orange and Blue have made a habit of scoring off of headers this season as both Arianna Veland and Patricia George have netted headers for the Illini. George tallied the game-winner against DePaul, while Veland posted her second goal of the season off of a flip throw in from Alicia Barker against Washington.  

SECOND HALF SHOOTERS

Illinois has proven to pick up its momentum in the second half of matches this year as the squad has fired 755 of its 123 shots in the second half of games. Illinois has scored eight of its 12 goals in the second half or overtime periods.

TRIO OF ILLINI SCORE ON OPENING WEEKEND

The Illini split a pair of matches to open the 2017 campaign, but the Orange and Blue saw offensive prowess from several different players. Sophomore Arianna Veland netted her first career goal against Missouri, while junior Lauren Ciesla also scored her first goal against DePaul. Last season's leading scorer, junior Patricia George also netted one for Illinois. 

KAIZEN

Illini soccer has been operating under the principle of Kaizen this season, an ideaology the squad adopted from the book, Grit, by Angela Duckworth. The Japanese term means continuous improvement, and with a young sqaud this season, the Orange and Blue are using the 2017 campaign as an opportunity for growth and consistent improvement.

NEW FACES

With a young squad in 2017, the Illini saw plenty of fresh faces hit the field during opening weekend as six of Illinois' 10 newcomers made appearances for the Orange and Blue. Freshmen Hope Breslin and Gabbi Chapa earned the start in both matches. Four of UI's 18 shots fired in Illinois' season opening weekend came from the freshman class, while another four were fired by sophomores. Seven of Illinois' newcomers have seen playing time so far this year. 

STADIUM UPGRADES

Fans will notice a new look inside Illinois Soccer Stadium this season as the Orange and Blue upgraded the facility's decor.  The Illini are proud to represent the new branding of the Illinois athletics department and hope fans enjoy the new look as well. 

B1G PRESEASON HONORS

Three Illini were named to the Big Ten Conference Preseason Honors List on August 14, as announced by the Big Ten Conference. Senior Kara Marbury and sophomores Katie Murray and Morgan Maroney were listed 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 2017 Preseason Women's Soccer Poll, where the Illini checked in at No. 10 on the list. Coming in at No. 1 was Penn State, who the Illini saw on Sept. 17.

ROAD TRIP

The Illini started the 2017 season with three home games, but then headed out on the road for seven straight matches. Illinois opened its road slate at Illinois State and spent the next three weekends on the road, first at Evansville and Miami (Ohio), before closing nonconference play in Oklahoma, facing two 2016 NCAA Tournament teams. Illinois took on Oklahoma State for the second time in program history on September 8 before heading to Norman to face Oklahoma on September 10. 

HONORING OUR ALUMNI

Fighting Illini Soccer announced the development of the Laura Redmond Ramirez Legacy and Inspiration Award last season, prior to the team's 3-0 shutout of No. 19 Michigan. The award will be given annually to an Illini player who exhibits the traits that former Illini Laura Redmond developed and demonstrated during her time at Illinois: courage, resiliency and fortitude, and the traits that she exhibited during her battle with Leukemia. 

ILLINI ROSTER FEATURES TEN NEWCOMERS

The Illinois roster will have a fresh look this season with the addition of 10 talented newcomers. The 2017 Illini squad is composed of 17 underclassmen and will be led by a group of six seniors. The 2017 signing class includes Hope Breslin (Massapequa, New York), Elizabeth Cablk (Naperville, Illinois), Gabbi Chapa (Colorado Springs, Colorado), Jayna Fittipaldo (McDonald, Pennsylvania), Maggie Hillman (Naperville, Illinois), Sabryn Kapp (LaGrange, Kentucky), Katie Le (Centreville, Virginia), Sami Sample (South Elgin, Illinois), Haley Singer (Naperville, Illinois) and Madi Wolfbauer (Canton, Michigan). 

"The 2017 Fighting Illini Soccer class makes us better in every area of the game: goalkeeping, goal scoring, playmaking and defending with pride and tenacity," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "This class of hard-working, disciplined and committed young women will also sustain and enhance our culture of integrity and excellence both on and off the field.   I have high expectations for them to contribute to the future success of this program on the field but also to contribute to the university, the Champaign-Urbana community and to make a difference in the world around them.  We are proud to welcome these 10 new members to the Illinois family."

ILLINI IN NICARAGUA

The Fighting Illini soccer team took time this summer to venture to Nicaragua for a 10-day service trip. While in Central America, the Orange and Blue partnered with the Soccer Without Borders program to host clinics and work with young children and schools in Granada. The Illini also had the opportunity to spend a few days in Managua where the team trained with and competed against the Nicaragua Women's National team and the Nicaragua U-20 Women's National team. In addition to their time on the field, the Illini had some time to explore some of the beauty that the Nicaragua landscape has to offer.

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 238-163-35 with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in 20 seasons. Head coach Janet Rayfield (181-124-32) is responsible for 76-percent of those wins and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in her 15 seasons at the helm.

UI NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Illinois has played in the NCAA Tournament 12 times in 20 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.