By: Logan Hanson
FightingIllini.com
Throughout the 2018 season, the Fighting Illini Soccer program has seen great success, tallying 11 regular season victories and advancing to its 17th Big Ten Tournament. That success didn't just fall into their laps, however, the team put in work on and off the field, doing "whatever it takes" to reach their goals.
A major contributor to the success of the team this season is the leadership provided by the senior class. The seniors selected three words to be used as a call to action before the start of the season: Desire. Invest. Execute.
 "Our leadership group sat down with the coaches and we came up with words that came to our mind as to how we want to be identified this year," said senior midfielder Katie Murray. "We narrowed it down and got feedback from the team, so overall it was a collective team effort. The three words we came up with were desire, invest and execute, and we implemented the expectations that come with each word to try and put the actions with them."
The words have been able to bring the team back to the postseason in its 17th Big Ten Tournament appearance. Â The Orange and Blue are set to take on Penn State in the semifinal round of play on Friday after defeating Wisconsin in a quarterfinal shootout. Illinois will make its first Big Ten Tournament Semifinal appearance since 2012.
"I definitely think we have potential to keep going," said senior Patricia George. "We came into the {Wisconsin} game thinking that we were going to beat them and we did. It was a gritty game."
The Illini season has been full of gritty and memorable games. With seven victories coming by just one score, two victories over top-25 opponents and one postseason game decided by penalty kicks, the Illini have certainly entertained with a flair for the dramatic. These victories have been a product of the team's mantra, a unique difference between the teams of seasons past.
"We developed it in the spring, kind of focusing on grit with a different mentality than we had last season," said senior forward Caroline Ratz. "Going out with passion, having desire and getting results."
The belief of desire, invest and execute has allowed all members of the team to experience a memorable season and served as a reward for the dedication given by the senior class. The rest of the team understands the effort given by the senior class to reach this level of competition and success for their final season.
"For this senior class and for this group of players I know {a few more wins} would mean the world to them," said head coach Janet Rayfield, "You've seen them play with passion, you've seen them invest in this team and this program and you've seen them really hold a high standard in discipline and execution, and those were the words that they came up with. I expect to see that continue all the way through to the end."
For this team and this season, desire, invest and execute have meant more than just giving your all in these three areas. It means giving everything for your teammates and leaving it all out on the field.
The Illini season has been a memorable one, and as they continue their postseason push, the squad will fall back on its principles of desire, invest and execute. These three words mean more than just playing harder or better, it means everything.
For the seniors, the rallying call will carry through the program and will leave an impact on those that come after them.
For the rest of the season, the Illini will are set to play with a desire to succeed and a passion for their program. That will be on display Friday in Westfield, Indiana as the Illini take on Penn State at 10 a.m. CT.
