University of Illinois
Purdue
Illini Soccer Travels to Purdue, Hosts Oregon for Senior Day
September 23, 2026 | Soccer
PREVIEW
| WEEK 7: Illinois (3-1-5, 0-1-2 B1G) at Purdue (8-1-1, 2-1-0 B1G) // vs. Oregon (6-1-2, 1-1-1 B1G) | |
|---|---|
| Match 10: Purdue | Thursday, Sept. 24 // 6 p.m. CT // West Lafayette, Ind. / Folk Field |
| Match 11: Oregon | Sunday, Sept. 26 // 1 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // Demirjian Park |
| Watch (B1G+) | Purdue // Oregon |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Notes | Illinois // Purdue // Oregon |
| Shop | Online Store |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois soccer team is set for a road trip to West Lafayette, Ind. to face Purdue on Thursday (Sept. 24) at 6 p.m. and play host to Oregon on Sunday (Sept. 27) at 1 p.m. CT. It will be Senior Day at Demirjian Park on Sunday where four seniors will be honored: Ava Arengo, Hedda Ornberg, Myra Schneider and Sutton Webb.
The Illini broke the program record for draws in a season with their fifth one coming last week in a scoreless battle against Iowa. Additionally, that was the fourth scoreless draw for Illinois as well which is also the program's most.
SCOUTING PURDUE
The Boilermakers carry an 8-1-1 overall record and a 2-1-0 record in conference play on the season so far with six of those wins being shutouts. They scored seven unanswered goals to Chicago State and eight unanswered goals to Eastern Illinois in back-to-back matches in August. Their only loss was a 2-1 battle against No. 16 UCLA in Los Angeles.
The Illini have the momentum in these two teams' all-time series record at 17-10-3. Their matchups have been consistent since Sept. 9, 1998, which resulted in a 4-2 win for Illinois. The Illini have beat the Boilermakers in their last four meetings. The most recent being a 1-0 shutout on Oct. 12, 2025, in Champaign.
SCOUTING OREGON
The Ducks are 6-1-2 overall and 1-1-1 in the Big Ten on their season with their only loss being a 1-0 shutout to Rutgers on Sept. 10 at home in Eugene. Oregon recently played and tied USC 1-1 on Sept. 18 who Illinois is also set to play later in the season on Oct. 8 in Los Angeles.
The Illini have only faced the Ducks twice in the all-time series winning both times in shutout fashion giving them the 2-0-0 advantage. Their first meeting was Sept. 11, 2011, in Baton Rouge, La. with a 5-0 win for the Illini. They most recently faced last year on Sept. 18 which resulted in a 1-0 win in Eugene, Ore.
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 38 saves with a Big Ten leading (number two national) six clean sheets so far this season.
- Her .905 save percentage leads the conference and ranks seventh 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 21.0.
- 28.0 - Lindsey Carstens (2004-07)
- 24.0 - Leisha Alcia (2001-04)
- 21.0 - Izzy Lee (2023-pres.)
- 18.0 - Alexandra Kapicka (2006-10)
- Ranks third in the Illinois career saves list with 262.
- 368- Leisha Alcia (2001-04)
- 292 - Claire Wheatley (2013-2016)
- 262 - Izzy Lee (2023-pres.)
- 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 three 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. S
- he 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.
- Ava Arengo and Gabriella Garcia-Terrell assisted on Wood's goal to both earn their 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 (3-1-5) 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.
