Paige Clawson Assistant Athletic Trainer (Soccer) | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Paige Clawson Assistant Athletic Trainer (Soccer) | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Fighting Illini soccer is preparing for an upcoming Big Ten match against Minnesota on Sunday, October 8. The game will be held at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in Minneapolis, with a kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Central Time. Fans can watch the match live on the Big Ten Network.
This season marks the 27th year of Illinois soccer and the 22nd under head coach Janet Rayfield. The team currently holds an overall record of 282-213-46.
In their recent matches, Illinois achieved a scoreless draw against Northwestern and narrowly lost to Ohio State with a score of 2-1. Goalkeeper Julia Cili was instrumental in maintaining the clean sheet against Northwestern by saving all four shots on target.
The Illini lead the all-time series against Minnesota with a record of 13-10-5. Their last encounter ended in a 2-2 draw on October 23, 2022. Minnesota's current record stands at 4-4-4 overall and they are yet to secure a win in the Big Ten this season.
Sydney Stephens has been a key player for Illinois, leading the team with four goals this season. Makena Silber recently scored her 20th career goal, tying her for ninth place in program history.
Newcomers Mya Archibald and Sophia Wampler have joined the team this season. Archibald brings international experience from representing Canada at U-17 competitions, while Wampler has trained with Peru's U-17 squad.
Looking ahead, Illinois will host No. 20 Wisconsin and Purdue at Demirjian Park on October 12 and October 15, respectively.
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