CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini soccer team is set to open the 2021 campaign on the road this week with the Missouri Tigers on Aug. 19 and the Illinois State Redbirds on Aug. 22.
The Orange and Blue begin their 25th season of competition against Braggin' Rights foe Mizzou with kickoff scheduled for 7 PM CT.  The match will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
The Illini then head an hour north on Sunday, Aug. 22 to take on the Illinois State Redbirds for a scheduled 1 PM CT kickoff. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
ILLINOIS…
- Is entering their 25th season of competition, and the 20th under head coach Janet Rayfield.
- Returns 24 letterwinners from last season, while only losing four.
- Welcomes nine newcomers to the roster.
- Returns their leading scorer, Kendra Pasquale (five goals, 12 points) this season.
- Returns nine players with 10+ starts last season (Kendra Pasquale, Eileen Murphy, Lauren Stibich, Aleah Treiterer, Hope Breslin, Maggie Hillman, Ashley Cathro, Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal).
- Open the season on the road for the first time since 2018.
- Face Missouri for the first time since 2017.
- Will hold the grand opening of Demirjian Park next Thursday, Aug. 26 against #3 North Carolina.
SCOUTING MISSOURI
The Illini last faced the Tigers on Aug. 18, 2017, a 3-1 result in favor of the Tigers. Missouri also leads the all-time series against the Illini, with the Orange and Blue holding a 3-6-2 record against the Tigers. Mizzou finished last season 6-5-3 and in third place in the SEC East, and was picked to finish 12th in the SEC this season.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE
The Redbirds and the Illini last squared up on the pitch on Sept. 8, 2019, a 3-2 victory for the Orange and Blue in Normal. Illinois leads the all-time series against the in-state foe 10-4-2.  Illinois State finished fifth in the MVC last season with a 4-7-1 overall record (4-4 MVC) but was picked to finish second in the league this season. Players to watch from the Redbirds include defender Michaela Kirschten and midfielder Ashley Santos.
UP NEXT
After the two-match road trip to begin the season, Illini Soccer will celebrate the grand opening of Demirjian Park.  Thursday, Aug. 26 the Illini host 2020 College Cup semifinalist and third-ranked North Carolina with an 8 pm kickoff that will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network. Butler, receiving votes for the top 25, will come to town Sunday Aug. 26, for a 1 pm kickoff against the Illini.
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