ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Illinois forward Sarah Foley was named Second Team All-Big Ten, the conference announced today, as the 2024 Big Ten Women's Soccer Postseason Awards were unveiled.
Foley, a junior from Belleville, Ill., turned in one of the most prolific seasons in recent program history, scoring a career-high 11 goals, while adding two assists, for a total of 24 points on the season, also a career-best mark.
She became the first player in program to hit those marks in goals and points since Illini great Jannelle Flaws did so during the 2015 campaign.
Foley's 11 goals ranked tied for fourth among Big Ten players and tied for 22nd nationally, while her six goals during conference play ranked tied for third. Finding the back of the net at an incredible rate, her conversion rate of 33 percent (11 goals/33 shots), topped all conference players that hit double-figures in goals, which also ranked tied for third in the country among all players that tallied at least 10 goals.
Six of those 11 goals were match winners, which are fourth-most all-time in a single season program history and the most since another Illini great, Vanessa DiBernardo, had eight in 2011.
Foley closed out her junior season in style, scoring in three-straight matches, a new career-long streak, to help Illinois to its first win over Indiana in Bloomington since 2021 and the Illini's first win over Northwestern, also since 2021.
She becomes the first Illinois All-Big Ten honoree since 2020 and also becomes the 51st and final All-Big Ten selection under head coach Janet Rayfield, who announced her retirement after 23 season at the helm of the program on Wednesday.
Also receiving conference honors was senior midfielder Abby Lynch, who was named Illinois' Sportsmanship Award Honoree.
