CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois soccer is set for its final regular season matchweek, with a trip to Madison on Thursday to take on Wisconsin before returning home to Demirjian Park for the home finale to take on Minnesota on Sunday, Oct. 23.

The 2022 season marks the 26th season of Illinois soccer, with the Illini holding an overall record of 277-209-41 (.565), and the 21st season under the leadership of head coach Janet Rayfield.

Last Time Out

Illinois went 0-2-0 in its last matchweek, falling 3-1 at Nebraska on Oct. 13 before a 6-1 defeat to No. 20 Ohio State at Demirjian Park on Sunday, Oct. 16. Makala Woods scored a spectacular solo effort against the Huskers and Sydney Stephens collected the lone goal against the Buckeyes with a curling effort from distance.

Scouting Wisconsin

The Illini narrowly trail in the all-time series between the two programs 11-12-5, with the two programs playing to a 1-1 draw in the last matchup on Oct. 8, 2021, at Demirjian Park. Wisconsin has gone 5-3-0 in conference play this season and went 0-2-0 in its last matchweek, suffering defeats at No. 25 Penn State (0-3) and No. 8 Rutgers (0-2). Overall, the Badgers have gone 6-0-1 at home this season and have not lost a regular season Big Ten match at the McClimon Track/Soccer Complex since Oct. 3, 2021.

Wisconsin was picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten this season, with midfielder Emma Jaskaniec, defender Aidan McConnell and midfielder Natalie Viggiano named as preseason players to watch.

Scouting Minnesota

The Illini lead the all-time series between the two programs 13-10-4, with Illinois falling 5-0 to Minnesota in the last meeting on Oct. 14, 2021, in Minneapolis. The Gophers have gone 3-1-2 in Big Ten play this season, playing to a 2-2 draw at No. 8 Rutgers before capturing a 2-1 win at Maryland. Minnesota has gone 2-4-2 in road matches this season and have not won in Champaign since 2017.

Minnesota was picked to finish ninth in the Big Ten this season, with midfielder Sophia Boman, forward Izzy Brown and goalkeeper Megan Plaschko named as preseason players to watch.

Illini Notes

• Kendra Pasquale was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 11 after her two-goal performance against Purdue. Her goal 15 seconds into the match was the second-fastest in program history. Pasquale became the first Illini to be named the conference's offensive player of the week since 2015. She was also named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week.
• Junior goalkeeper Julia Cili leads all Big Ten keepers with 89 saves this season. During the match against Penn State, she became the eighth goalkeeper in Illinois history to record 100 career saves.
• The victory over No. 17 Butler on Aug. 25 was Illinois' first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 22 Pepperdine on Aug. 30, 2019. The Illini handed the Bulldogs just their fourth loss at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl since 2017.
• For the fourth-straight season, the Illinois soccer team opened the year with a victory as the Illini posted a 1-0 win over Illinois State in the season opener last Thursday at Demirjian Park.
• Freshman Sarah Foley had an impressive debut for Illinois as she scored her first collegiate goal just 30 seconds after subbing into Illinois' 4-1 win over Toledo on Aug. 21. She also added an assist later in the match for a total of three points on the day. She tallied six shots, with three on goal in her first collegiate match.
• The Illini are entering their 26th season of competition, and the 21st under head coach Janet Rayfield.
• Illinois is coming off a 5-11-1 season, including a 1-8-1 mark in Big Ten action.
• The Illini are returning 24 letterwinners from last season, while welcoming in nine newcomers to the roster.
• Pasquale is the leading point getter returning from the 2021 squad with 10 points on four goals and two assists. The redshirt-senior owns 11 goals and five assists in her Illini career.
• Also returning is sophomore Sydney Stephens, who led the Illini with five assists on the season.
• The Illini return 10 players with 10+ starts last season (Makena Silber, Kendra Pasquale, Aleah Treiterer, Ashley Cathro, Eileen Murphy, Sydney Stephens, Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal, Maeve Jones, Angie Galo, Mackenzie Schuler).
• Freshman Lia Howard was named the 2021-22 Gatorade New York Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
• The Big Ten announced its Women's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch List on August 15 with redshirt-seniors Ashley Cathro and Kendra Pasquale and senior Eileen Murphy representing the Illini.
• Cathro played in all 17 matches and started in 16 for the Illini a season ago, while also leading the team in minutes played (1,502) during the 2021 season.

Next Up

The Illini enter the week trailing Minnesota by three points for eighth place in the Big Ten. Illinois qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, they would face off against the No. 1 seed on the road on Sunday, Oct. 30.