CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini soccer team is set to open the unprecedented 2021 season against the Purdue Boilermakers in a Thursday afternoon showdown.

Originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20, the season-opener is now taking place on Thursday, Feb. 18 in an unusual location: Westfield, IN. Due to poor playing conditions, the opener was moved to Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, IN. Illinois is still the designated home team.

The Illini were picked to finish 10^th in the B1G this season, and hope to get big production from their preseason B1G Players to Watch: Senior Hope Breslin, Sophomore Ashley Cathro, and Junior Makena Silber.

SCOUTING PURDUE

The all-time series between the Illini and the Boilermakers stands at 12-9-3 in favor of the Illini. Purdue was picked to finish 11^th in the preseason B1G poll, and a trio of juniors, Marisa Bova, Sarah Griffith, and Grace Walsh were selected as B1G Players to Watch for the 2021 season. The last time Illinois played Purdue was back on Oct. 11, 2018, a 3-1 Illinois win at Illinois Soccer Stadium.

COMPETITIVE SLATE

The Orange and Blue set out a competitive slate of matches for the 2021 season, with every game this season being played in the B1G. Illinois' opponents this season includes defending B1G Tournament Champions Penn State (Feb. 28), B1G Regular Season Champions Wisconsin (Mar. 4) and B1G Tournament runner-up Michigan (Mar. 25).

B1G PRESEASON HONORS

Three Illini were named to the Big Ten Conference Preseason Honors List on February 17, as announced by the Big Ten Conference. Senior Hope Breslin, junior Makena Silber, and redshirt-sophomore Ashley Cathro were named to the list, and return firepower for the Illini in the 2021 campaign. Breslin tied for the team lead in goals with Silber with six goals, and ranked second on the team in points (17). Silber returns after leading the Illini in shots (61) and shots on goal (29) in 2019, and Cathro returns after her redshirt year in 2019.

RETURNING PRODUCTION

The Orange and Blue have returned three of the top five points scorers from the 2019 season. Senior Hope Breslin (17 points), junior Makena Silber (14 points) and Maggie Hillman (5 points) all return for the Illini in the 2021 season. The Illini also return four players who started all 18 games in the 2019 season, Breslin, Silber, Garrison, Carste).

UP NEXT

The Illini are set to host the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday, Feb. 25 at Demirjian Park, weather permitting. Kickoff is set for 3 PM CT and will be streamed on Big Ten Network+. Live stats are available via fightingillini.com.