Illinois Soccer Set for Final Homestand Welcoming Rutgers and Purdue

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini soccer club is set for their final two regular season home matches of the season against Rutgers on Thursday (Oct. 9) and Purdue on Sunday (Oct. 12). Kick off is slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Illinois is coming off a comeback win against Maryland where after trailing 1-0 at the half goals from Emma Yee and Cayla Jackson in the second half pushed them to victory. Jackson netted the game winner in the 85th minute for her fifth goal of the season and second game winner, both are the second most on the team. Yee's equalizer was her sixth goal of her sophomore campaign which ties her for the team lead with Sarah Foley.

SCOUTING RUTGERS

Rutgers 2025 record stands at 3-4-4 overall and 1-4-1 in Big Ten play. In the all-time Illinois vs. Rutgers series, the latter holds a commanding 1-5-1 advantage with the last meeting resulting in a 2-1 win for Rutgers on Oct. 20, 2024. Olivia Bodmer (GK / R-Jr.) remains a backbone in goal, anchoring the defense and expected to be a difference-maker in tight matches. Rutgers often leans on defensive organization, counterattacks, and set pieces to generate offense. In tight matches, Bodmer's saves and the midfield's ability to contest possession will be crucial.

Illinois and Rutgers have two common opponents this season being Indiana and Penn State. The Illini beat Penn State (4-3) and tied Indiana (0-0) while Rutgers beat Indiana (2-0) and lost to Penn State (2-1).

SCOUTING PURDUE

Purdue's 2025 record is 5-6-3 (overall) and 2-3-1 in Big Ten play. Illinois holds a 16-10-3 advantage in the all-time series winning the last three meetings as well. Their last meeting was a 2-1 victory for the Orange and Blue in West Lafayette. Purdue tends to be competitive at home and will likely press Illinois on wide play, quick transitions and push forward through wing combinations. Their defense will be tested, especially when Illinois controls possession and presses high.

There have been five common opponents between the Illini and Boilermakers this season being DePaul, Maryland, Oregon, Washington and Indiana. Purdue lost to DePaul (2-0), Maryland (2-1), Washington (3-1), tied Indiana (0-0) and beat Oregon (3-0). Illinois defeated DePaul (2-0), Oregon (1-0), Maryland (2-1), lost to Washington (2-1) and tied Indiana (0-0).

NOTES

• Illinois' 2-1 victory on Sunday, Oct. 5, over Maryland was the program's 300th.
• Illinois has three of the top-10 point scores in the Big Ten with Sarah Foley in third (15 points) and Cayla Jackson and Emma Yee tied for 10th (13 points).
• 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 13 appearances, making 63 saves across those 13 games. She has 12 career shutouts and continues to build on her single-season shutouts career high.
  • She leads the Big Ten with those seven 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 second most in the conference and her six goals on the year are the fourth most in the Big Ten.
  • Her two assists in the match against Maryland on Oct 5 is a new single game career high for her.
• 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.
• 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 and are the seventh most in the Big Ten.
• Cayla Jackson scored the game winner against Maryland on Oct. 5, her second of the season.
  • She has five goals on the year with three assists which gives her 13 points on the season which is 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.