University of Illinois
Xavier
Illini Soccer Set for First Road Trip of The Season
August 23, 2023 | Soccer
Preview
| WEEK 2: Illinois (1-0-0) at #17 Xavier (2-0-0) // at Dayton (2-0-0) | |
|---|---|
| Match 2: #17 Xavier | Thursday, Aug. 24 // 6:30 p.m. CT // Corcoran Field // Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Match 3: Dayton | Sunday, Aug. 27 // 12 p.m. CT // Baujan Field // Dayton, Ohio |
| Watch Live | Xavier // Dayton |
| Live Stats | FightingIllini.com |
| Printable Notes | Illinois // Xavier // Dayton |
| Shop | Online Store |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois soccer team kicks off a season-long five-match road trip with a trip to the Buckeye State to face No. 17 Xavier on Thursday and Dayton on Sunday. The matches are slated for 6:30 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. kickoffs, respectively.
The 2023 season marks the 27th season of Illinois soccer, with the Illini holding an overall record of 278-209-43 (.565), and the 22nd season under the leadership of head coach Janet Rayfield.
Last Time Out
The Illini opened up the 2023 campaign with a 3-2 victory over Loyola on Thursday, Aug. 17, at Demirjian Park. Makena Silber marked her return to the pitch with her 20th-career goal just over eight minutes into the contest.
The Ramblers equalized seven minutes later but Maeve Jones would put the Orange and Blue ahead at the half-hour mark with a sliding effort following two excellent passes from Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal and Sarah Foley.
Freshman Mya Archibald doubled the lead with a goal on her collegiate debut in the 85th minute but Loyola brought one back just 52 seconds later to cut the lead back to one, but the Illini were able to see out the win.
Scouting Xavier and Dayton
The Illini lead in the all-time series against the Musketeers 2-1-0, falling in the last meeting between the two programs, 2-1, on Sept. 2, 2021, at Demirjian Park. Thursday's match will be the first meeting between the two programs in Cincinnati.
Xavier has opened the 2023 season 2-0-0 after back-to-back 2-0 wins over Northeastern and Louisville, both at Corcoran Field. The Musketeers were tabbed to finish second in the Big East, with defender Natalie Bain and midfielder Ella Rogers named to the Preseason All-Big East Team.
The Illini lead in the all-time series against the Flyers 2-1-0, coming away with a 3-2 victory in the last meeting between the programs on Aug. 25, 2019, at Demirjian Park. Sunday's match will be the first meeting between the two sides in Dayton.
Dayton has opened the season also at 2-0-0 after 4-1 victories over Loyola Maryland and Cincinnati. The Flyers were picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10, with defenders Alicia Donley and Mackenzie Lutz named preseason all-conference.
Illini Notes
- With the 3-2 victory over Loyola on Aug. 17 to open the season, the Illini have now started the season with a victory in four-straight seasons...the Illini have also won their home opener in four of the last five seasons.
- In her first appearance since Oct. 21, 2021, Makena Silber scored the 20th goal of her Illini career against Loyola, moving her into a tie for ninth in goals in program history...Silber now trails Colleen Joyce (21, 2000-01) by one goal and Lisa Baldwin (23, 1998-00) by three goals as she looks to continue to move up the program's leaderboard.
- Freshman Mya Archibald scored what proved to be the match-winning goal in the 85th minute against Loyola on Aug. 17...this marks the third-straight season that an Illini true freshman has scored on their collegiate debut in the season opener, with Sarah Foley accomplishing the feat last season against Illinois State on Aug. 18, 2021, and Abby Lynch opening her account on Aug. 19, 2021, at Missouri.
- Mya Archibald, Bel Rolley, Izzy Lee and Ashley Stellon all made their Illini debuts against Loyola on Aug. 17...Archibald scored her first-career goal and Stellon also registered the first assist of her career in the match...Rolley logged 43 minutes of action and Lee played the entirety of the second half in goal.
- Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal recorded an assist in the season opener vs. Loyola on Aug. 17 and has now recorded an assist in two-straight matches after doing so in last season's finale vs. Minnesota on Oct. 23, 2022.
Illini Trio Named to Big Ten Players to Watch List
The Big Ten announced its Women's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch List on Tuesday, with seniors Kennedy Berschel and Makala Woods along with junior Ella Karolak representing the Illini.
A midfielder from Bensenville, Ill., Berschel played in all 18 matches, starting 14, last season for the Illini and was one of nine outfield players to log over 1000 minutes during the campaign. Berschel is also coming off a season in which she scored the first goal and registered the first assist in her collegiate career.
Woods, a senior forward from Monroe, Ohio, also featured in all 18 matches last season, scoring a career-high three goals. Woods found the back of the net twice in the final four games of the 2022, including a spectacular solo effort in the season finale vs. Minnesota.
A mainstay in the Illinois backline, Karolak started all 18 matches for the Illini last season, the only outfield player to do so. The defender from Grosse Pointe, Mich., who was named the team's Defensive MVP in 2022, helped the Orange and Blue keep four clean sheets during the season.
Illini Roster Features Three Newcomers
The Fighting Illini soccer program and head coach Janet Rayfield will welcome three newcomers, including two freshmen to the 2023 roster. The freshmen include defender Mya Archibald and midfielder Sophia Wampler. Bel Rolley also joins the Orange and Blue as a graduate transfer from Oregon.
Archibald joins the Illini following a summer that featured her representing Canada at the U-17 level at two international competitions. She made seven appearances and five starts at the CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championship, helping Canada to a bronze medal finish, and two starts at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
Not only is Archibald a budding star at the international level, she is a decorated track and field athlete. She was a 2022 provincial gold medalist in the 400m and long jump while capturing a silver medal in the 200m. Archibald was the 2019 U-16 Athlete of the Year for Athletics in Nova Scotia after becoming a national champion at high jump.
Wampler joins the Illini bringing a wealth of international experience to Demirjian Park. She was called up to train with Peru's U-17 in the winter of 2021 as it prepared for the 2022 South American Championships and has also previously trained with the federation's U-15 squad.
Wampler played her club soccer for both the Kings Hammer Academy and Cincinnati United Premier, helping her Kings Hammer Academy squad to a 2018 USYSA Region II title and national runners-up honors.
The Cincinnati native was simply dominant in her lone season at St. Ursula Academy, scoring 12 goals and adding nine assists in 19 games in the 2022 season. Wampler was named a Cincinnati Enquirer Division I First-Team All-Star, Division I First-Team All-Southwest Ohio, First-Team Greater Girls Catholic League All-Conference and was selected to play in the Cincinnati All-Star Game.
Next Up
The Illini continue their season-long five-match road trip with a pair of matches in the Bluegrass State, taking on Louisville on Thursday, Aug. 31, and Kentucky on Sunday, Sept. 3. The matches will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT and 1 p.m. CT, respectively.
