Illinois Soccer Hits the Road for Two-Match Slate

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini soccer team is prepared to hit the road for their final two match road trip of the regular season with in-state rival Northwestern on Thursday (Oct. 16) and No. 16 Michigan State on Sunday (Oct. 19). Kick off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and 12 p.m. CT, respectively.

Illinois is coming off a dual shutout weekend with a 2-0 victory over Rutgers and a 1-0 win over rival Purdue. Goalkeeper Izzy Lee made 17 saves across those two matches to record her eighth and ninth clean sheets of the season, the most by an Illini keeper in a single season since 2008 (Alexandra Kapicka).

The Orange and Blue are ranked No. 24 in Top Drawer Soccer's latest poll and receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll which has Michigan State ranked No. 16.

SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN

Northwestern enters the contest with a 6-3-6 overall record an 2-2-4 tally in conference play. Illinois holds a 15-10-4 edge in the all-time series against Northwestern with the Illini winning their last meeting 4-1 on Oct. 27, 2024, in Champaign.

There have been six common opponents between the Wildcats and Fighting Illini this season being: Washington, Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana and Rutgers. Northwestern's results in those matches are a win against Rutgers (3-0), ties against Washington (1-1), Oregon (0-0), Ohio State (0-0) and losses against Penn State (2-1) and Indiana (2-1). Illinois owns wins against Oregon (1-0), Penn State (4-3) and Rutgers (2-0), a draw against Indiana (0-0) and losses to Washington (2-1) and Ohio State (3-0).

Northwestern will likely aim to stay organized defensively, force Illinois to break them down, and attempt to counter when Illinois pushes forward. They'll try to win duels in midfield and use possession changes to create space. 

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE

Michigan State boasts a 7-3-5 overall record and a 4-1-3 record in Big Ten play this season. Illinois has dominated the all-time series 21-5-3, but the Spartans won the last matchup 2-1 on Oct. 19, 2023, in East Lansing.

There are only two common opponents between the squads this season being Rutgers and Ohio State. Michigan State tied Rutgers (1-1) and Ohio State (1-1) while Illinois beat Rutgers (2-0) and lost to Ohio State (3-0).

Michigan State typically emphasizes structural defense and balance in midfield. They'll likely look to stay compact, limit Illinois' possession advantages, and try to generate chances via counterattacks or set pieces. Their defensive personnel will be tested by Illinois' attacking pressure.

NOTES

• Illinois has two top-6 point scores in the Big Ten with Sarah Foley and Cayla Jackson tied for sixth (15 points).
• The Illini have eclipsed 12 wins in a season for the first time since 2011 going 5-1-1 at home, their best won-lost-tied percentage (.786) since that same 2011 team went 10-2-1 (.808)
  • Their 7-1 (.875) away won-lost-tied percentage is the program record currently passing the 2003 team that went 8-1-1 (.850) on the road.
• Head coach Katie Hultin recorded the best start in program history at 7-0-1 through eight matches and extended it to 9-1-1 through 11 matches.
  • She's the only head coach in program history to win her first seven games in her debut season and not concede a match in her first nine games.
  • She earned her first ranked win against No. 18 Penn State on Sept. 25.
• Izzy Lee has posted nine clean sheets this season in 15 appearances, making 80 saves across those 15 games.
  • She has 14 career shutouts and continues to build on her single-season shutouts career high.
  • Her nine shutouts are now tied for fourth most in program history for a single season.
  • She leads the Big Ten with those nine shutouts and set a new single game career high with 10 saves against No. 18 Penn State on Sept. 25.
• Sarah Foley leads the team in goals (six) and points (15).
  • She recorded her first career hat trick against Valparaiso on Sept. 7. She's the first Illini to have a hat trick since Hope Breslin in 2021. 
  • She has three game winners on the season which is the third most in the conference and her six goals on the year are the fifth most in the Big Ten.
  • Her two assists in the match against Maryland on Oct. 5 was a new single game career high for her.
• Cayla Jackson has the same exact stats as Foley with six goals and three assists for 15 points on the season. She also has three game winners on the year as well.
• Emma Yee registered her first career brace against Valparaiso on Sept. 7 and has six goals on the season to tie Foley for the team lead.
  • Her 13 points on the season are the third most on the team and the 13th most in the Big Ten.
  • She also has two game winning goals, the second most on the squad.
• Lia Howard recorded her first career brace against No. 18 Penn State on Sept. 25; she now has three goals on the season which is the fourth most on the team.
• Ashley Stellon's four assists lead the team.
• Sydney Stephens has three goals and an assist on the year for seven points which ranks fourth on the team.
  • She netted the game winner against Rutgers on Oct. 9, her second on the season which is tied for the second most on the team.
• Freshman Ashlyn Adams dished out two assists in the win against No. 18 Penn State on Sept. 25, she now has three on the season which is the second most on the team.
• Freshman Kyra Berman recorded her first career assist against DePaul on Aug. 28.