CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini soccer is set for a ranked matchup to finish the regular season slate, hosting No. 9 Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 23 for a 1 p.m. CT kickoff at Demirjian Park. No live stream will be available for the match, but fans can still follow the game via live stats on fightingillini.com and can follow @Illinisoccer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates on the match.

LAST TIME OUT

The Illini are coming off of a 1-3 loss to Nebraska on Thursday evening, with freshman Maeve Jones scoring the lone goal for the Illini in the 17^th minute of the match and goalkeepers Julia Cili and Naomi Jackson combining for six saves in the match.

ILLINOIS…

• The Illini head into the regular season finale with a 5-10-1 overall record, and a 1-7-1 mark in conference play.
• Has faced Rutgers five times in program history, with Rutgers leading the series 1-3-1.
• Four of Illinois' five matchups vs. Rutgers have come when the Scarlet Knights ranked in the top 25 of the United Soccer Coaches poll, with Illinois' lone victory against Rutgers coming in 2015 when the Illini topped No. 11 Rutgers 2-1 in Champaign.
• Play their third match this season against a top-25 opponent, holding an 0-2 record this season after previously falling to No. 2 North Carolina 1-5 on Aug. 26 and No. 21 Michigan 1-2 (2OT) on Sept. 17.
• Freshman Maeve Jones scored her third goal of the season vs. Nebraska, the most of any Illini newcomer this season.
• Redshirt junior Ashley Cathro has played the full time in 13 consecutive matches.
• Ranks second in the B1G in saves per game (4.80).
• Hope Breslin ranks fourth in the B1G and 76^th nationally in shot accuracy (.568).
• Hope Breslin ranks fourth in the B1G and 71^st nationally in shots on goal per game (1.67).

KNOW THE HISTORY

Illinois and Rutgers have faced off just five times since joining the conference, with Rutgers leading the all-time series 1-3-1. The Orange and Blue have faced a ranked Scarlet Knights team in four of five matches in their history, with the lone Illinois victory coming in 2015 when the Illini defeated No. 11 Rutgers 2-1 in Champaign. Rutgers took the last matchup between the two teams on Oct. 7, 2018 1-0 (OT) in Piscataway, N.J.

KNOW THE FOE

Rutgers comes to Champaign ranked ninth in the nation by United Soccer Coaches, sporting a 14-2 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in conference play. The Scarlet Knights clinched the regular season Big Ten championship on Thursday night in Bloomington after taking down the Hoosiers 2-0. After dropping a match to No. 24 Georgetown on Sept. 12, the Scarlet Knights are winners of their past ten matches. Rutgers leads the conference in goals scored with 49 this season, with Senior Frankie Tagliaferri leading the team and ranking second in the conference in goals (12) along with 13 other Scarlet Knights contributing to scoring this season.   

KICK CANCER

Saturday's match will be the annual Kick Cancer match in support of cancer awareness. Illini fans and student-athletes will be tying colored ribbons to a soccer goal before the match, with multiple colors coordinating with different types of cancers to raise awareness. Fans will also be able to create signs showing their support for loved ones affected with cancer.

FOLLOW THE #ILLINI

For the latest news, information, and media from Illini Soccer, be sure to follow @Illinisoccer on Twitter and Instagram, "like" Fighting Illini Soccer on Facebook, and tune in to fightingillini.com.