University of Illinois
Nebraska
Illinois Soccer Continues Road Trip to Nebraska
October 15, 2026 | Soccer
PREVIEW
| WEEK 10: Illinois (4-4-6, 1-4-3 Big Ten) at Nebraska (3-3-8, 1-2-5 Big Ten) | |
|---|---|
| Match 15: Nebraska | Sunday, Oct. 18 // 1 p.m. CT // Lincoln, Neb. // Hibner Stadium |
| Watch | B1G+ |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Notes | Illinois // Nebraska |
| Shop | Online Store |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois soccer team is on the road traveling to Lincoln, Neb. to face Nebraska on Sunday (Oct. 18) at 1 p.m. CT. The Illini were in Los Angeles last week which resulted in a 1-1 tie against USC (Oct. 8) and a 1-2 loss to No. 10 UCLA (Oct. 11).
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
The Cornhuskers are 3-3-8 on their season with a 1-2-5 conference record. Their conference win came against No. 20 Michigan in a 1-0 shutout in Ann Arbor. Nebraska has recorded many notable ties including a 1-1 draw to No. 8 Notre Dame on Aug. 20 and a 2-2 tie to No. 11 Washington on Sept. 20. Their last three match ups have been scoreless draws to No. 20 Wisconsin, Maryland and Rutgers.
Between the two squads, their all-time series record is 8-7-0. There has never once been a tie between the squads from their first meeting on Nov. 20, 2004 where the Illini came out with the 2-1 victory in Champaign. The Cornhuskers have won the last four matchups against the Illini. Illinois will be looking to break this streak in Lincoln, Neb.
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 65 saves with seven clean sheets so far this season which is the second most in the conference (13th 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 289.
1. 368- Leisha Alcia (2001-04)
2. 292 - Claire Wheatley (2013-2016)
3. 289 - Izzy Lee (2023-pres.)
4. 242 - Jaelyn Cunningham (2016-19) - Cayla Jackson has four goals and an assist on the season to lead the team in points with nine.
- Ashlyn Adams leads the team in assists with five 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 two assists on the year to have the second most points on the team with six.
- 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.
- Emma Yee scored her first goal of the season against No. 10 UCLA on Oct. 11.
- 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 (4-4-6) is the only season in the program's history to have three ties in any four-match span.
- The five ties set a new program record for most in a season, now extended to six. 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.
