CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – [10] Illinois soccer is heading back to the NCAA Tournament to take on [7] Memphis on Saturday (Nov. 15) in Memphis, Tenn. at 7 p.m. CT.
It's the first time in 12 years and 13th time in program history that Illinois is in the NCAA Tournament; the last time the Illini made the big dance was a Sweet Sixteen run in 2013.
Katie Hultin is now the first head coach in program history to make the NCAA Tournament in her first season at Illinois on the heels of leading the program to its first Big Ten Tournament win since 2018.
There were plenty of firsts throughout this season for Illinois including its best start in program history at 7-0-1 through its first eight matches and extended it to 9-1-1 through 11 matches. Hultin is the only head coach in program history to win her first seven matches in her debut season and not concede a match in her first nine outings. Â
Illinois was anchored all season by Second Team All-Big Ten goalkeeper Izzy Lee who set the program single season saves record with 118 and counting so far this season. She's now the fifth Illini keeper to make 100+ saves in a single season and broke the record that was held for 13 years by Steph Panozzo who had 111 stops in 2012.
There were six different goal scorers for the Orange and Blue this season led by Second Team All-Big Ten selection Sarah Foley and Third Team All-Big Ten member Cayla Jackson who each had seven goals to lead the squad. Emma Yee netted six goals this season, a career high, followed by Lia Howard with four, Sydney Stephens had three and Ellen Persson added two which is also a career high for her.
