| WEEK 1: Illinois (0-0-0, 0-0-0) at UIC (0-0-0) // at Bowling Green (0-0-0) |
| Match 1: UIC |
Thursday, Aug. 14 // 5 p.m. CT // Flames Field // Chicago, Ill. |
| Match 2: Bowling Green |
Sunday, Aug. 17 // Noon CT // Cochrane Field // Bowling Green, Ohio |
| Watch Live (ESPN+) |
UIC // BG |
| Live Stats |
UIC // BG |
| Printable Notes |
Illinois |
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois soccer begins the Katie Hultin era and 2025 season with a pair of road trips at UIC on Thursday (Aug. 14) and at Bowling Green on Sunday (Aug. 17). Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. and noon CT, respectively.
The 2025 season marks the 29th season of Illinois soccer with the Illini holding an overall record of 291-225-48 (.559) and it's the first season with Hultin at the helm after Janet Rayfield retired after 23 seasons.
SCOUTING UIC
This will be the first meeting between the Flames and Fighting Illini. UIC went 8-10-2 overall last season and 6-2-2 in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play. They won their first match in the MVC Championships against Illinois State, 4-2, on their home turf at Flames Field. They were then eliminated in a heart breaker 1-0 by the Drake Bulldogs in the semifinal round.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
This will be the second meeting between the Falcons and Ilini, with the later holding a 1-0 edge winning their first meeting 5-1 on Sept. 9, 2021, in Bowling Green, Ohio. BG went 7-7-4 overall last season and 4-4-3 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. They were eliminated in the first round of the 2024 MAC Tournament by the Ohio Bobcats, 1-0.
ILLINOIS NOTES
- Illinois finished the 2024 season with an 8-8-2 record, including a 4-6-1 mark in Big Ten play. The Illini went 5-5-1 on the home pitch in Demirjian Park and 2-5-3 on the road.
- Illinois will begin the season on the road for the first time in three years and they aim for their sixth-straight season opener, dating back to 2019.
- Illinois will face three opponents in 2025 that begin the season ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25: Penn State (11), Michigan State (12) and Ohio State (18).
- The Illini return 13 letterwinners to the 2025 squad and welcome in 12 newcomers.Â
FOLEY, LEE, YEE NAMED BIG TEN SOCCER PLAYERS TO WATCH
Three Illinois soccer players, Sarah Foley, Izzy Lee and Emma Yee were named 2025 Big Ten soccer players to watch the conference announced on Monday (Aug. 11).
Foley begins her senior season in 2025 after a career year in her junior campaign. She was named to All-Big Ten Second-Team honors and tallied career-best marks in goals (11), shots (33), shots on goal (22) and game-winning goals (6). Her 11 goals and 24 points were both the most in a single season by an Illini since 2015. Additionally, her six game-winners were the most in a single season by an Illini since Vanessa DiBernardo had eight in 2011. Foley recorded her first-career brace on Sept. 8 at Mercer and posted her second at Wisconsin on Sept. 19.
Lee enters her redshirt junior year in 2025 after being one of the top keepers in the Big Ten last season. She started all 18 matches in the net and kept four clean sheets in those appearances. She recorded 97 saves on the season which was tied for sixth-most all-time in a single season in program history. Lee's 5.21 goals prevented during Big Ten play ranked second and she posted a career-high nine saves three times in a five-match span (Sept. 8 at Mercer, Sept. 19 at Wisconsin, Sept. 26 at Nebraska).
Yee enters her sophomore campaign in 2025 coming off a productive freshman season last year. She appeared in all 18 matches making 14 starts in those appearances logging a goal and two assists. She made her Illini debut on Aug. 15 against Wright State where she recorded her first assist as well. Her first goal came on Oct. 27 vs. Northwestern where she also added her second career assist.
