University of Illinois
USC
Illinois Soccer Flies to Los Angeles
October 7, 2026 | Soccer
PREVIEW
| WEEK 9: Illinois (4-3-5, 1-3-2 Big Ten) at USC (1-8-3, 0-5-1 Big Ten) // #10 UCLA (8-3-1, 5-1-0 Big Ten) | |
|---|---|
| Match 13: USC | Thursday, Oct. 8 // 9:30 p.m. CT // Los Angeles, Calif. // Rawlinson Stadium |
| Match 14: UCLA | Sunday, Oct. 11 // 3 p.m. CT // Los Angeles, Calif. // Wallis Annenberg Stadium |
| Watch | USC (BTN) // UCLA |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Notes | Illinois // USC // UCLA |
| Shop | Online Store |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois soccer team is on the road this week traveling to Los Angeles, Calif. to face the USC Trojans on Thursday (Oct. 8) at 9:30 p.m. CT on BTN and No. 10 UCLA Bruins on Sunday (Oct. 11) at 3 p.m. CT.
The Illini hosted No. 2 Michigan State on Sunday (Oct. 4) which resulted in a late 1-0 defeat.
SCOUTING USC
The Trojans are 1-8-3 on the season thus far and are seeking their first conference victory. Their lone win came against New Mexico State in a 4-0 shutout on Aug. 27. However, they had a notable 2-2 draw against No. 1 Stanford on Sept. 3. Similarly, USC tied Oregon 1-1 on Sept. 18 who the Illini recently faced and shutout 2-0 on Sept. 27.
The two teams have a short all-time series record where USC has won all three matchups. Their first meeting was Nov. 12, 2010, and the last was a 3-2 win for the Trojans on Oct. 10, 2024, in Champaign. In these three matchups USC has consistently scored three goals each match. The Illini will be looking to end that streak on Thursday night.
SCOUTING UCLA
The Bruins are 8-3-1 in their season with a 5-1 conference record. They are currently on a four-game winning streak since their 0-1 loss to Michigan State on Sept. 13. All four of those wins have been conference shut outs. The most recent win being 1-0 against Oregon which was a similar opponent and outcome for the Illini.
The all-time series record between the Bruins and the Illini stands at 0-4-0 with the Bruins holding a commanding series advantage. Their first meeting was Sept. 7, 2007, in a high scoring 2-4 loss for Illinois in Los Angeles and the most recent matchup was a 1-3 loss on Oct. 13, 2024, in Champaign.
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 54 saves with seven clean sheets so far this season which leads the conference (fourth in 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 277.
1. 368- Leisha Alcia (2001-04)
2. 292 - Claire Wheatley (2013-2016)
3. 277 - 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 seventh 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, Ashleigh Vizek made her debut against Western Michigan and CC Conrad made hers against Michigan State
- The 2026 Illini soccer season (4-3-5) 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.
