CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois soccer head coach Katie Hultin announced the addition of two transfers to the 2026 roster in Ava Arengo (Mason, Ohio) and Hedda Ornberg (Gothenburg, Sweden).
AVA ARENGO I MIDFIELDER I MASON, OHIO I VIRGINIA TECH // WILLIAM MASON HS // CINCINNATI UNITED PREMIER
ABOUT ARENGO
- Made a career-high 11 starts and played a career-high 792 minutes for the Hokies in her junior season.
- Made her first start of the season against Clemson (Aug. 21) and tallied her second career assist in the match
- Scored her first career goal in her sophomore season against Campbell (Aug. 15, 2024)
- First career start was against Butler on Aug. 17, 2023 in her freshman season
- Team captain of the 2021 Girls Academy National Championship team
- USYF National Champion in 2018
Arengo joins the Illini as a senior after spending her first three seasons at Virginia Tech (2023-25). She made a career-high 11 starts in 13 appearances in her junior season for the Hokies tallying one assist.
HULTIN'S TAKE: "Ava brings ACC-tested composure to our midfield. She finds pockets effortlessly, sees the game at a high level, and connects play with real purpose. Ava values competition, relationships, and doing things the right way. She's a tremendous human being and we're thrilled to welcome her to the Illini famILLy."
HEDDA ORNBERG I FORWARD I GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN I SOUTH FLORIDA // MOREHEAD STATE // HVITFELDTSKA HS
ABOUT ORNBERG
- Has 19 goals, five assists and 43 points in her three-year career
- Scored the game winner for USF against UNC Greensboro on Aug. 31
- Named American Conference Offensive Player of the week on Sept. 15 as part of three-goal week
- Spent first two seasons (2023-24) at Morehead State
- Named First-Team All-OVC in 2024
- Scored a career-high 10 goals (four game winners) in her sophomore campaign in 2024 which each led the OVC
- Made a career-high 20 starts in 23 appearances in 2024 playing 1,679 minutes
- Named to OVC All-Newcomer Team in 2023
Ornberg comes to Illinois as a senior after spending her junior season at South Florida (2025) and her first two seasons at Morehead State (2023-24). She was named First-Team All-OVC as a sophomore in 2024 with a career-high 10 goals in that campaign.
HULTIN'S TAKE: "Hedda is an exciting addition to our program. She's dynamic on the ball, has a sharp soccer IQ, and brings a true attacker's mentality. Even more importantly, she's a phenomenal person who will fit seamlessly into our culture. We can't wait to have her in the Orange and Blue!"
