FightingIllini.com
The Official Home of University of Illinois Athletics
- Men's Sports
- MEN'S SPORTS
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Football
- Golf
- WOMEN'S SPORTS
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
Illinois Hosts Pair of Critical Big Ten Matches
  |
|
Junior forward Chichi Nweke leads the team with five goals, including three game-winners.
|
Oct. 23, 2008
Penn State, Ohio State Game Notes 
Illinois vs. #21 Penn State **ORANGE OUT**
Friday, Oct. 24 • 7 p.m.
Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium
Gametracker available
Illinois vs. Ohio State **BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY AND DOG DAY**
Sunday, Oct. 26 • 1 p.m.
Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium
Gametracker Available
Just For Kicks
Illinois is...
...58-45-9 in the Big Ten regular season
...47-27-7 in the Big Ten under Rayfield
...6-0 at home this season
...unbeaten at home in last 13 games
Not In Our House
Illinois is virtually unstoppable on its home turf, with a 13-game unbeaten streak at the Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium, including a 6-0 record this season. During the span, the Illini have shut out 12 opponents, including the last five straight.
Big Ten Opponents Not Welcome
Against Big Ten opponents, the Orange and Blue are unbeaten in their last 11 home matches and haven't given up a goal at home to a conference opponent since Oct. 8, 2006. The Illini have lost just one Big Ten home match since 2004 and three during the Rayfield era, collecting a 25-3-4 home record against conference opponents since she took the helm in 2002.
From Orange To Pink
In addition to an Orange Out for Friday's match, Illinois is encouraging fans to wear pink in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The team will don pink warmup shirts and to show its support, while the first 200 fans in pink will receive a Kicks Against Breast Cancer pin.
One Or None
The Illini defense has been tough to crack this season. Illinois hasn't allowed more than one goal in the last nine games, with shutouts in four of the matches. In fact, the Illini have allowed more than one goal only twice through 16 matches.
If It's the Illini, They Will Come
Illinois soccer has become a fan favorite not only to the Champaign-Urbana community, but across the board in the Big Ten. In the seven conference matches, the Illini are tops in average attendance with 795 fans per game.
Penn State At A Glance
The Nittany Lions are coming off back-to-back wins against Minnesota and Iowa. Katie Schoepfer leads the team with nine goals and also has collected five assists. Danielle Toney has also been an offensive force for Penn State, with seven goals and a team-leading six assists. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher leads the Big Ten with a 0.54 GAA in conference action.
Ohio State At A Glance
The Buckeyes hit a rough stretch in conference action over the past two weeks, dropping three of their last four decisions. Ohio State is led by Paige Maxwell with seven goals and a pair of assists, while Lisa Collison has contributed six goals and two assists.
Masar Movin On Up
Former Illini forward Ella Masar was picked ninth overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the Women's Professional Soccer draft. Masar, an Urbana native, is the first Illini soccer player in history to be drafted. She will reunite with former associate head coach Marcia McDermott who is the General Manager of the Red Stars.
Illinois-Purdue Picked as BTN Wildcard
Illinois soccer will have a chance to showcase one of the best atmosphere's and most dominant home streaks in collegiate soccer when the Big Ten Network comes to Champaign for the second year in a row. The Illini's matchup with Purdue on Friday, Oct. 31, has been selected to air live on the national network. The game time has been changed from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CT).
