CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois soccer team returns to Demirjian Park to kick-off a five-game homestand on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. CT, starting with a match against No. 18 Texas A&M. This will be the second time this season Illinois will take on a ranked opponent this season and the first time at home. The Illini will then face Indiana State on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. CT.

The 2022 season marks the 26th season of Illinois soccer, with the Illini holding an overall record of 273-203-39 (.568), and the 21st season under the leadership of head coach Janet Rayfield.

Last Time Out

Illinois is coming off their first road trip of the 2022 season, going 1-1-0. The Illini (3-1-0) claimed their first win over a ranked opponent this season on Thursday at No. 17 Butler thanks to an 89th minute winner from junior Julia Eichenbaum. The Orange and Blue then suffered their first defeat of the season on Sunday at Notre Dame, 4-0. Junior goalkeeper Julia Cili turned in a career-high 13 saves, equaling the third-most saves in program history in a single match.

Scouting Texas A&M

The Illini trails in the all-time series with the Aggies, 1-2-0, facing a ranked A&M team in all three matches, including two matches where the Aggies were ranked in the Top 10. The Aggies opened the season with a scoreless draw agaisnt No. 25 Clemson before rattling off three-straight wins, outscoring their opponents 16-1 during that span.

The Aggies were picked to finish eighth in the SEC, with M Carissa Boekmann, F Laney Carroll, M Quinn Cornog, M Mia Pante, D Karlina Sample and D Katie Smith were all named to the SEC Preseason Watch List.

Scouting Indiana State

The Illini will face against the Sycamores for the just the fourth time in school history and the first time since 2013 when the Orange and Blue were victorious 3-2 in Champaign. Illinois lead the series, 2-1-0. Indiana State opened the season with a 2-1 defeat to SIU-Edwardsville before playing to a scoreless draw against Eastern Illinois in their home opener. The Sycamores most recently fell 3-0 to Toledo on Sunday.

Indiana State ranked second in the Missouri Valley preseason poll, receiving one first place vote. GK Maddie Alexander, D Kloe Pettigrew and M CeCe Wahlberg were named to the All-MVC Preseason Team. The Sycamores are coming off a 6-7-4 record last season and were beaten in the first round of the MVC Tournament by Evansville on penalty kicks 5-3.

Illini Notes

• 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 continue the homestand on Thursday, Sept. 8 vs. Missouri at 7 p.m. CT followed by a contest against Loyola on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. CT.