Illini Soccer Set to Open Big Ten Play at Iowa

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini soccer begins their Big Ten slate with a match at Iowa on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Iowa Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT.

The 2023 season marks the 27th season of Illinois soccer, with the Illini holding an overall record of 281-211-44 (.565), and the 22nd season under the leadership of head coach Janet Rayfield.

Last Time Out

Illinois suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at Missouri on Sept. 7 in Braggin' Rights before winning a 3-2 thriller over Pepperdine on Sept. 10 on Senior Day at Demirjian Park.

In Columbia, Mo., the Illini fell behind 2-0 inside the first 25 minutes of the match before Kennedy Berschel pulled a goal back in the second half from the penalty spot, but the Orange and Blue were unable to find the equalizing goal.

Back in Champaign, Illinois rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 lead over Pepperdine in the second half, but the Waves found an equalizing goal in the 73rd minute to make it 2-2. Sydney Stephens would score a dramatic winner in the 88th minute, her second of the contest, to close out the non-conference slate with a 3-2 win. 

Scouting Iowa

The Illini lead in the all-time series against the Hawkeyes 15-11-2, earning a draw in the last meeting between the two programs on Sept. 29, 2022, at Demirjian Park. In the last match in Iowa City, Iowa, Illinois fell in a 3-2 contest on Oct. 17, 2021.

Iowa, receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, has opened the 2023 season 6-0-1, going 1-0-1 this past matchweek, with a scoreless draw at No. 18 Virginia on Sept. 7 before a 3-0 shutout of George Mason on Sept. 10 at home. The Hawkeyes were tabbed to finish 10th in the Big Ten this season, with goalkeeper Macy Enneking, defender Samantha Cary and forward Meike Ingles being named to the Big Ten Women's Soccer Players to Watch List.

Illini Notes

• Sydney Stephens tallied the first brace of her career in the Illini's 3-2 victory over Pepperdine on Sept. 10...Stephens' first goal in the 33rd minute tied the match at 1-1 and her second in the 88th minute won the match...Stephens leads the Illini with three goals this season and is also tied for the team lead in points with six (3 G, 0 A).
• Julia Cili made nine saves on Sept. 10 vs. Pepperdine, a new season-high mark...Cili has made at least seven saves in back-to-back contests...Cili has made a total of 175 saves in her Illini career, which ranks eighth-most all-time in program history.
• With the Illini's 2-1 win over Louisville on Aug. 31, it marked the first time since 2019 that Illinois has had a four-match unbeaten streak and it was the first time since 2015 that the Illini started a season four matches unbeaten.
• Following the Illini's 0-0 draw at Dayton on Aug. 27, Illinois has now started the season with at least a three-match unbeaten streak in back-to-back seasons...Illinois has also not allowed a goal in two-straight games, which the team also accomplished last season during a three-match shutout streak from Aug. 18-25.
• The Illini's victory over No. 17 Xavier on Aug. 24 marked their first win over a ranked opponent this season...it's also the second-straight year that they have captured a win over a ranked opponent on the road...the Illini also became the first team to win at Corcoran Field since Saint Louis did so on Sept. 8, 2022, ending Xavier's nine-match unbeaten run at that facility.
• 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 on Aug. 17, 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.

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 return to Demirjian Park for their Big Ten home opener vs. Indiana on Thursday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m., and the match will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. Illinois also hosts Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 24, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. CT.