2021 Illinois Soccer Schedule
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois soccer team's 2021 schedule was announced Thursday afternoon. The competitive slate includes six non-conference matchups early in the season, 10 games against B1G opponents, and a return to the normal fall soccer schedule.
Eight matches will be held at Demirjian Park, including five matches set to take place under the lights. The Orange and Blue are set to face three NCAA tournament teams from the 2020 season, including national semifinalist North Carolina and 2020 B1G Tournament champions Iowa.
The Illini begin their season preparation with two home exhibition matches against Eastern Illinois on Sunday, Aug. 8 and Notre Dame on Saturday, Aug. 14. The Orange and Blue then begin their regular season on the road against Braggin' Rights foe Mizzou on Thursday, Aug. 19 and continue their road trip against Illinois State on Sunday, Aug. 22.
Illinois will begin their 2021 home slate against 2020 NCAA National Semifinalist North Carolina on Thursday, Aug. 26. Illinois soccer head coach Janet Rayfield will be coaching against her alma mater for the fourth time. UI continues their home stretch the following week, taking on Butler on Sunday, Aug. 29 and Xavier on Thursday, Sep. 2.
The Orange and Blue finish their non-conference schedule with two road games in the Buckeye state, squaring off with Bowling Green on Thursday, Sep. 9 and Toledo on Sunday, Sep. 12.
We are excited at the slate of opponents that we will welcome to Demirjian Park in the Fall of 2021 and can't wait to fill the stands with Illini fans. Kicking off our home season with North Carolina is of course a special opportunity to compete against my alma mater still coached by Anson Dorrance, my former coach and a truly legendary coach in the game. UNC is also one of the most storied programs in women's soccer and will test our mentality and preparation right away" head coach Janet Rayfield said. "Along with UNC, the lineup of successful regional programs at home and on the road will make for exciting games for our fans and great preparation for our team prior to Big Ten Competition."
The B1G schedule then begins one week later with a trip to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday, Sep. 19. A split home and away weekend awaits the Illini when they take on Purdue on Thursday, Sep. 23 and visit Indiana on Sunday, Sep. 26. Another split weekend sees the Illini travel to in-state rival Northwestern on Thursday, Sep. 30 and host Maryland on Sunday, Oct. 3.
Wisconsin then travels to the Illini on Saturday, Oct. 9 followed by a trip to Minnesota on Thursday, Oct. 14. The Illini wrap up the regular season with a trip to Iowa on Sunday, Oct. 17 and two home matches against Nebraska on Thursday, Oct. 21 and Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 24. The quarterfinals of the B1G Tournament are set to begin on Wednesday, Oct. 27.
"The Big Ten conference is so competitive that every game will be an exhibition of some of the best players and teams in women's college soccer. Several teams will visit Demirjian Park for the first time and I know our fan base will be a difference maker in those games" Rayfield said. "We are eager to make Demirjian Park the best environment in college soccer and this schedule will certainly provide the product on the field to help make that happen."
Broadcast information and times for each Illini soccer match will be announced at a later date. All scheduled opponents, times and dates are subject to change.
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