Illini Soccer Travels to Maryland for Lone Weekend Match

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's soccer team travels to Maryland in a Big Ten matchup as the two programs renew their series on the pitch on Sunday (Oct. 5). Kick off is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT at Ludwig Field.

The Orange and Blue split their matches this past weekend at Demirjian Park earning a ranked win in a high scoring dual to No. 18 Penn State (4-3) but fell to No. 23 Ohio State the following match (3-0).

SCOUTING MARYLAND

Over the years, Illinois holds a 5-3-1 edge in the all-time series against Maryland.  The Illini are 3-1 at home and 2-2-1 on the road in that series. Their most recent meeting came on Sept. 29, 2024, when Illinois won 1-0 in Champaign. 

Maryland enters the match seeking to end their three-match slide in the series and continue growth under head coach Michael Marchiano, now in his first full season at the helm. The Terps have dealt with changes in key positions, notably in goal and midfield, following departures from last season. Meanwhile, Illinois looks to build from momentum gained this season and solidify consistency in conference play. 

There are two common opponents between the Terrapins and Illini so far this season being Penn State and Indiana. Illinois beat Penn State (4-3) and tied Indiana (0-0) while Maryland lost to Penn State (4-0) and beat Indiana (2-1). This match features several important matchups across the field. Maryland will want to test Illinois' defense in wide areas and on set pieces, while Illinois may try to control possession in the midfield and generate chances off transitions.

NOTES

• 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 #18 Penn State on Sept. 25.
• Izzy Lee has posted seven clean sheets this season in 12 appearances, making 58 saves across those 12 games. She has 12 career shutouts and continues to build on her single-season shutouts career high.
  • She's second in the nation with those seven shutouts and set a new single game career high with 10 saves against #18 Penn State on Sept. 25.
• Sarah Foley leads the team in goals (six) and points (13). 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 most in the conference and her six goals on the year are the third most in the Big Ten.
• Emma Yee registered her first career brace against Valparaiso on Sept. 7. She scored the game winner against #18 Penn State on Sept. 25 for her fifth goal of the season which is the second most on the team.
• Lia Howard recorded her first career brace against #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 and are the sixth most in the Big Ten.
• Cayla Jackson scored a goal and two assists in the match against Valparaiso on Sept. 7  to become the first Illini since Sydney Stephens in 2021 to have two assists in a match.
  • She has four goals with three assists which gives her 11 points on the season which is the second most on the team.
• Freshman Ashlyn Adams dished out two assists in the win against #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.