Illinois...

...is coming off of a 2-1 victory over third-ranked Duke

...opens the 2018 home slate on Sunday against Northern Illinois

...will honor its six seniors prior to Sunday's match

...returns junior GK Jaelyn Cunningham who tallied 106 saves last year

...netted three goals in its first two games 

...is receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll

...has a 240-169-35 all-time soccer record

COMING UP

The Fighting Illini will continue the 2018 season at DePaul on Thursday, in a 4 p.m. contest. The game will be live streamed at DepaulBlueDemons.com. UI will then open the home slate on Sunday, hosting Northern Illinois at 2 p.m. Admission is free to the match, and the Orange and Blue will host a free youth clinic after the game. The Illini squad will honor its six seniors prior to the match for Senior Celebration Day, and fans in attendance will receive a free fan clapper. 

DETAILS ABOUT DEPAUL

The DePaul Blue Demons are 1-1-0 on the season, coming off of a 7-0 victory over UMass Lowell. Senior forward Franny Cerny and sophomore Morgan Turner combined for five of the team's seven goals. The team's leading scorer last season, Cerny was a unanimous Preseason All-BIG EAST selection. DePaul dropped its season opener to SMU, 2-1. The program returns six starters and 17 players from last year's 7-7-5 squad, in addition to welcoming seven freshmen. The Blue Demons are led by Erin Chastain,  the sister of USA Soccer great, Brandi Chastain. 

KNOWING NORTHERN ILLINOIS

The NIU Huskies are 0-1 on the season, coming off of a 0-3 loss to Milwaukee. The Huskies are coming off of an 8-10-1 season in 2017, and return 18 players from last year's squad. NIU also welcomes six newcomers. The Huskies will face Western Illinois on Thursday prior to seeing the Illini. 

DOWNING DUKE

Illinois opened the 2018 campaign against two top-ranked opponents in No. 6 North Carolina and No. 3 Duke. Thanks to first-half goals from freshman Makena Silber and sophomore Katie Le, Illinois captured its first victory of the season against the Blue Devils, 2-1. Silber netted her first-career goal with a long-range shot that sailed over the Duke goalkeeper. Just a few minutes later, sophomore Katie Le tapped in a goal kick from senior Patricia George to put Illinois on top. UI netted three goals total on the weekend, as Kelly Maday posted the first goal of the season against North Carolina. Illinois' victory over Duke marks the program's first win over a top-three ranked opponent since beating No. 3 Penn State, 1-0, on November 2, 2012.

ILLINI IN THE POLLS

Fighting Illini Soccer is making its way into the polls this week as the Orange and Blue are ranked at No. 19 in the country according to Soccer America. Illinois is also receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches National Poll. Illinois' last appeared in the United Soccer Coaches poll to start the 2016 season (Aug. 23). Prior to that, UI was ranked in the poll during the 2014 season, appearing for three consecutve weeks (weeks 4-6), entering the poll at No. 22 on Sept. 16 and checking in at no. 19 in the following two weeks. 

WEEKLY CONFERENCE HONORS

Illini freshman Makena Silber was recognized by the Big Ten Conference on August 21 as she was named the league's Freshman of the Week. Silber was a key component to Illinois' victory over the third-ranked Duke Blue Devils over the weekend as she netted her first-career goal in the match. She fired two shots in the game, and put both on frame. She also racked up two shots in Illinois' season opener at No. 6 North Carolina.

COMPETITIVE SLATE

The Fighting Illini are set for a competitive schedule this season, as the program opened regular season play with two top-ranked opponents in No. 6 North Carolina and No. 3 Duke. The complete 2018 slate features eight opponents ranked or receiving votes in the final 2017 United Soccer Coaches Top 25, including three top 10 opponents. The Illini will also see eight 2017 NCAA Tournament teams during the 2018 season including Duke, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Rutgers and Penn State. UI has one of the most action-packed schedules in the Big Ten as only Ohio State and Nebraska will take on as many ranked opponents.

 B1G PRESEASON HONORS

Three Illini were named to the Big Ten Conference Preseason Honors List on August 13, as announced by the Big Ten Conference. Seniors Katie Murray and Morgan Maroney and junior Alicia Barker 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 2018 Preseason Women's Soccer Poll, where the Illini checked in at No. 12 on the list. Coming in at No. 1 was Penn State, who the Illini will host on Sept. 22.

RECORD BREAKING SOPHOMORE SEASON

Illini junior goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham is coming off of a strong sophomore campaign. She finished the 2017 season ranked second in the Big Ten this season for her 106 saves on the year, a number that also ranked 23rd in the country. Cunningham averaged 5.6 saves per game to sit second among all players in the Big Ten. 

The sophomore had a record day at Penn State on Sept. 17, 2017, making a career-best 10 stops in the match. Her 10 saves on the day marked the most for an Illini in a single game since Michelle Denley grabbed 10 saves against Illinois State on August 21, 2016. 

Cunningham tallied her 100th save against Michigan last season, becoming one of just four Illini to record 100 saves in a single season in program history. Cunningham finished the year just five saves shy of the school record (111), set by Leisha Alcia in 2004 and matched by Steph Panozzo in 2012. Her 106 saves in 2017 ranks third all-time. 

HURLESS ENTERS HALL OF FAME

Illini alumni Tara Hurless will be honored by the Illinois Athletics Department on Sept. 22 as she will be inducted into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame. Hurless was a two-time Second-Team All-American for the Fighting Illini women's soccer team, and finished her career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 47 goals, a mark that lasted 11 years. She was named First-Team All-Great Lakes Region twice in 2003 and 2004, and was second-team in 2002. Hurless was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2003 and 2004 after being named to the second-team in 2002. She was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team in 2001, 2003 and 2004, earning offensive MVP honors at the tournament in 2003. Hurless was the Illini's offensive MVP all four years. After helping lead the 2003 squad to the Big Ten Tournament title, Hurless led the Illini into the NCAA Elite Eight in 2004. Hurless currently lives and works in Champaign-Urbana as a police officer.

HONORING OUR ALUMNI

Fighting Illini Soccer announced the development of the Laura Redmond Ramirez Legacy and Inspiration Award in the 2016 season, prior to the team's 3-0 shutout of No. 19 Michigan. The award is 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. Recipients of the Laura Redmond Ramirez Legacy and Inspiration award include Jenna Carosio (2016) and Dr. Rachel Frank (2017). 

ILLINI ROSTER FEATURES 11 NEWCOMERS

For the second year in a row, the Illini squad features a large class of newcomers. The 2017 campaign featured 10 freshman, while this season the program welcomes 11. The 2018 signing class includes Katelynn Buescher (Naperville, Illinois), Ashley Cathro (Victoria, British Columbia), Amaya Ellis (Monte Sereno, California), Meredith Jo Johnson-Monfort (Mahomet, Illinois), Ashleigh Lefevre (Brighton, Australia), Erin McKeown (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Kendra Pasquale (Naperville, Illinois), Maeve Riordan (Naperville, Illinois), Makena Silber (Crystal Lake, Illinois), Lauren Stibich (Western Springs, Illinois) and Peyton Willie (Yorkville, Illinois).

"The 2018 Illini class will add athletic talent, academic excellence, and great character to the Illini Soccer family," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "We are excited about the diverse experiences that these players have had, and look forward to what they will bring to our program.  International playing experience, top-level club experience, and successful high school careers will synergistically blend to create a challenging environment that drives this class and this program towards its collective potential.  With several proven goal-scorers and top-level defenders, this class will complement a strong returning midfield core and strengthen our game in front of the goal – both ours and our opponents."

WATCH THE ILLINI ON BTN

Illinois will appear live on Big Ten Network on Thursday, October 4 at Maryland. The game is slated to start at 5 p.m. CT in College Park, Maryland. BTN will also air the Big Ten Tournament beginning Oct. 28 and continuing through the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 4. Illinois' remaining home and conference matchups will be live streamed via BTN Plus. 

DEMIRJIAN PARK

University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced plans on Dec. 6, 2017 for the construction of new soccer and track and field facilities on the UI campus. The new complex will be named Demirjian Park, in honor of a lead gift from the Demirjian family of Decatur, Ill. The project, which will be executed in phases with full completion scheduled for the spring of 2021, remains subject to approval by the UI Board of Trustees. Demirjian Park will feature two new soccer fields, one for competition and one for practice, located directly east of the existing track and field complex, which will itself be renovated. The project's centerpiece will be Demirjian Park Stadium, located between the new soccer fields and the renovated track.

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 240-171-35 with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in 20 seasons. Head coach Janet Rayfield (183-129-32) is responsible for 76-percent of those wins and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in her 16 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.