CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini soccer team looks to bounce back this Thursday night with a matchup with in-state rival Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on B1G+. Additional updates from the matches can be found by connecting with @IlliniSoccer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The Orange and Blue are coming off a hard-fought weekend which saw Illinois drop two conference matches to Purdue and Indiana, each by a score of 1-2. Redshirt senior Hope Breslin scored the lone Illini goal vs. Purdue, tying her career-high for goals in a season with six. Redshirt junior Kendra Pasquale led the scoring for the Illini at Indiana last Sunday, putting Illinois ahead just seven minutes into the game before a successful comeback effort by the Hoosiers.

ILLINOIS…

• Looks to snap a three-match losing skid at Northwestern, searching for their first conference win of the 2021 season.
• Redshirt senior Hope Breslin overtook the team lead in goals with her sixth goal of the season vs. Purdue last Thursday night. Six goals for Breslin this season ties her career-high for goals in a season.
• Redshirt senior Hope Breslin and senior Makena Silber are tied for the team lead in points, with Breslin recording six goals and no assists, while Silber has five goals and two assists on the season.
• Ranks first in the B1G and 96^th nationally in saves per game (5.30).
• Ranks second in the B1G and 59^th in the nation in scoring offense (2.10).
• Ranks third in the B1G and 57^th nationally in total goals (21).
• Redshirt senior Hope Breslin ranks 4^th in the B1G and 86^th nationally in goals per game (0.60).
• Redshirt senior Hope Breslin and senior Makena Silber rank third and fourth in the B1G in shot accuracy (.607, .591, respectively).

KNOW THE HISTORY

The Illini and the Wildcats have met on the pitch 25 times since 1997, with Illinois holding the all-time series lead 14-8-3. Illinois and Northwestern last met up in the regular season finale last season on April 3, 2021, with Illinois mounting a wild late-game comeback, including the game-winner in the 89^th minute by Kendra Pasquale, to defeat the Wildcats 2-1 in Evanston, Ill.

KNOW THE FOE

Northwestern (5-4-1, 1-1-1 B1G) has been up and down this year thus far, beginning the season with two losses to fellow Illini opponents Butler and Xavier before going 4-1 in their next five matches, with their only loss coming at #2 North Carolina on Sept. 2. The Wildcats sit even at 1-1-1 in conference play so far, opening league play with a loss at Iowa before upsetting #12 Penn State in University Park, Penn. last Thursday and tying Maryland 1-1 this past Sunday. Thursday night's match will be just the third home match this season for Northwestern, with the Wildcats holding an undefeated 2-0-0 record at home. Led by sophomore Josie Aulicino (five goals, six assists) and senior goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood (42 saves on 106 shots faced), Northwestern was picked to finish in a tie for seventh in the B1G this season.

UP NEXT

Following Thursday's away match, the Illini will be back at Demirjian Park on Sunday, Oct. 3 to take on Maryland. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CT and will be streamed on B1G+. Sunday's match will serve as a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, with special items like churros and chips and salsa available at the concession stand throughout the match, a visit from La Casa Cultural, and a Spanish-speaking public address announcer who will be announcing throughout the match.

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.