Illini Soccer Welcomes #2 Michigan State to Demirjian Park Sunday

WEEK 8: Illinois (4-2-5, 1-2-2 Big Ten) vs. #2 Michigan State (8-1-2, 4-1-0 Big Ten)
Match 12: Michigan State	Sunday, Oct. 4 // 1 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // Demirjian Park
Watch (B1G+)	Michigan State
Live Stats	StatBroadcast
Notes	Illinois // Michigan State
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini soccer team welcomes the No. 2 team in the nation, Michigan State, to Demirjian Park on Sunday (Oct. 4) at 1 p.m. CT.

Illinois split its contests last week with a 3-0 loss to Purdue on the road on Thursday (Sept. 24) but responded with a 2-0 shutout victory over Oregon on Sunday (Sept. 27).

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartans are 8-1-2 overall and 4-1-0 in conference play on the season so far with wins against four ranked teams. The most notable matches being a 3-2 win over No. 6 North Carolina, now nationally No. 1, on Aug. 23, and more recently recording a 3-0 shutout over No. 18 Washington on Sept. 27. Michigan State and the Illini share a common loss to Michigan, both played at home where MSU lost 3-1 and Illinois was defeated 2-0.

In their all-time series the Illini have a strong advantage going 21-6-3 since their first meeting on Oct. 19, 1997 which resulted in a 2-1 win for the Spartans in double overtime. Illinois is currently on a three-match losing streak to Michigan State but before that they had not lost to them in the regular season since Sept. 9, 2002, going 17-0-2 in that time.

ILLINOIS NOTES

Katie Hultin is the only head coach in program history to remain unbeaten through her first seven matches in her first two seasons.
- Only head coach in program history to not lose a regular season nonconference match in her first two seasons.
Izzy Lee has made 47 saves with seven clean sheets so far this season which leads the nation.
- She was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week on Aug. 18, the first Illini keeper to earn this distinction since Sami Sample (March 16, 2021).
- Made a season-high nine saves against Virginia Tech on Sept. 6.
- Named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week on Sept. 8.
Ranks third in the Illinois career shutouts list with 22.0.

        1. 28.0 - Lindsey Carstens (2004-07)
        2. 24.0 - Leisha Alcia (2001-04)
        3. 22.0 - Izzy Lee (2023-pres.)
        4. 18.0 - Alexandra Kapicka (2006-10)

Ranks third in the Illinois career saves list with 271.

        1. 368- Leisha Alcia (2001-04)
        2. 292 - Claire Wheatley (2013-2016)
        3. 271 - Izzy Lee (2023-pres.)
        4. 242 - Jaelyn Cunningham (2016-19)

Cayla Jackson has three goals and an assist on the season to lead the team in points with seven.
Ashlyn Adams leads the team in assists with four which ranks sixth in the Big Ten.
Alyssa White has the second most assists on the team with two, both of them coming on Cayla Jackson goals.
Hedda Ornberg has two goals and an assist on the year to have the second most points on the team with five.
- She scored the game winner against Cincinnati for her first goal as an Illini off the assists from Adams and Jackson.
Ryleigh Wood scored her first career goal as an Illini in the 1-0 victory against Virginia Tech on Sept. 6.
Gabriella Garcia-Terrell scored her first goal as an Illini against Oregon on Sept. 27; she also has one assist.
Ashleigh Vizek scored her first goal as an Illini against Oregon on Sept. 27, it was also her first start.
Ava Arengo assisted on Wood's goal to earn her first points as Illini.
Sutton Webb named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8, first Illini to earn the distinction since Claire Wheatley on Oct. 11, 2016.
Six new faces made their Illini debuts in the home opener against Georgia: Ava Arengo, Gabriella Garcia-Terrell, Kylie Marschall, Sophia McMillan, Hedda Ornberg and Alyssa White. While Abby Anderson and Avia Hughes made their debuts against UIC. Presli Houk made her Illini debut against Saint Louis and Ashleigh Vizek made her debut against Western Michigan.
The 2026 Illini soccer season (4-2-5) is the only season in the program's history to have three ties in any four-match span. The five ties are a new program record with four of them being scoreless, also the program's most.
The shutout of UIC on Aug. 23 was the 100th home shutout in Illinois soccer history.
Illinois begins the season ranked No. 9 in the Big Ten Preseason Poll, up from No. 15 to start last season.

Schedule