University of Illinois
Northwestern
Illinois Soccer Prepares for Final Two-Match Weekend
October 20, 2026 | Soccer
PREVIEW
| WEEK 11: Illinois (4-4-7, 1-4-4 Big Ten) vs. Northwestern (5-8-3, 3-5-1 Big Ten) // at #3 Ohio State (12-1-1, 8-1-0 Big Ten) | |
|---|---|
| Match 16: Northwestern | Thursday, Oct. 22 // 6 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // Demirjian Park |
| Match 17: Ohio State | Sunday, Oct. 25 // 11 a.m. CT // Columbus, Ohio // Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium |
| Watch (B1G+) | NU // OSU |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Notes | Illinois // Northwestern // Ohio State |
| Shop | Online Store |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois soccer team is at home to start the week hosting in-state rival Northwestern on Thursday (Oct. 22) at 6 p.m. Then the Illini hit the road traveling to Columbus, Ohio to face No. 3 Ohio State on Sunday (Oct. 25) at 11 a.m. CT.
The Illini were in Lincoln, Neb. last week which resulted in a scoreless draw against Nebraska (Oct. 18), the fifth scoreless draw of the season.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
The Wildcats are 5-8-3 on the year with a 3-5-1 conference record. Their three conference wins have all been shutouts, two of them being common opponents with the Illini, going 1-0 against Oregon and 1-0 to Michigan. The Illini recorded a win against the Ducks, but a loss to the Wolverines.
The two teams have a long all-time series record of 15-11-4 favoring Illinois. Their matchups date back to Oct. 1997 with a 3-2 win for Illinois in double overtime. The Illini and the Wildcats have consistently played one another every year since then with the most recent matchup in favor of Northwestern 1-0 last year.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes are 12-1-1 on their season and are currently ranked No. 3. They are on a seven-match win streak with their most recent win being against No. 20 Purdue out scoring them 2-1 in West Lafayette on Oct. 18. Their conference record is 8-1 with their only loss being against No. 21 UCLA on Sept. 17.
The two squads' all-time series record is 10-15-4 with Ohio State having the advantage. Their first meeting was on Oct. 3, 1997 where the Illini fell in a 1-3 loss in Champaign. But, Illinois defeated the Buckeyes 1-0 in their most recent matchup on Oct. 30, 2025, in the Big Ten Tournament.
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 73 saves with eight clean sheets so far this season which is the second most in the conference (10th 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 and Oct. 20.
- Ranks second in the Illinois career saves list with 297.
- 368- Leisha Alcia (2001-04)
- 297 - Izzy Lee (2023-pres.)
- 292 - Claire Wheatley (2013-16)
- 242 - Jaelyn Cunningham (2016-19)
- Ranks third in the Illinois career shutouts list with 23.0.
- 28.0 - Lindsey Carstens (2004-07)
- 24.0 - Leisha Alcia (2001-04)
- 23.0 - Izzy Lee (2023-pres.)
- 18.0 - Alexandra Kapicka (2006-10)
- 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 (4-4-7) 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.
