April 19, 2004

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois women's soccer team will close out its spring exhibition schedule by hosting the Mexican National Team at Illinois Soccer Stadium this Sunday, April 25 at 11 a.m. Tickets are $5 for adults. All students will be admitted free and anyone with a Spring Sports Festival ticket will also be admitted free of charge.

UI head coach Janet Rayfield feels that the game will be a big measuring stick for the Illini, who are coming off their most successful season in school history. Mexico is currently ranked 25th in the FIFA World Rankings and is preparing for the upcoming Olympic games in Athens.

"The Mexico game will really test of our ability to compete with some of the best players in the world," said Rayfield. "It is a great opportunity for our team and for this community to see that level of soccer."

The meeting will be the second between Illinois and Mexico in four years. When the two squads met in Champaign in 2001, the Illini took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but ended up falling 4-1 on the cold, snowy April night.

So far this spring, Illinois has posted a 4-1-1 record vs. college teams and also had a victory over a club team. The Illini tied Maryland (0-0) and beat Virginia (3-2) in the Kicks for Cancer Tournament in Washington, D.C. April 3-4. They then won the State Outdoor Cup right here in Champaign on April 10 with wins over Loyola (4-0), DePaul (3-1) and Illinois State (0-0; 4-2 PKs). Last week Illinois suffered its first loss of the spring season, 1-0 to Notre Dame at the Indiana Soccer Showcase in Indianapolis.

2004 Illinois Spring Exhibition Schedule

April 3-4		Kicks for Cancer Tourney (Washington D.C.)

		   vs. Marlyand 				T, 0-0

	   	vs. Virginia				W, 3-2


April 10		State Outdoor Cup (HOME)

		   vs. Loyola				W, 4-0

	   	vs. DePaul				W, 3-1

	   	vs. Illinois State				W, 0-0 (4-2 in Pks)

April 17		Indiana Soccer Showcase (Indianapolis, Ind.)

	   	vs. Notre Dame				L, 0-1

April 25		vs. Mexican National Team (HOME)	11 a.m.