University of Illinois
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Western Michigan
Illinois Soccer Ready for First Road Trip of 2026
September 1, 2026 | Soccer
PREVIEW
| WEEK 4: Illinois (1-0-3) at Western Michigan (2-0-2) // Virginia Tech (4-0-2) | |
|---|---|
| Match 5: Western Michigan | Thursday, Sept. 3 // 6 p.m. CT // WMU Soccer Complex // Kalamazoo, Mich. |
| Match 6: Virginia Tech | Sunday, Sept. 6 // 11 a.m. CT // Thompson Field // Blacksburg, Va. |
| Watch | WMU // VT |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Notes | Illinois // WMU // VT |
| Shop | Online Store |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's soccer team is set for its first road trip of the 2026 season after a four-match homestand to open the year. They head up to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on Western Michigan on Thursday (Sept. 3) at 6 p.m. before traveling further east to Blacksburg, Va. for a match against Virginia Tech on Sunday (Sept. 6) at 11 a.m. CT.
The Illini are coming off their third tie of the season already (1-0-3) after a 1-1 draw against Saint Louis on Thursday Aug. 27 in a match that was aired on Big Ten Network. Cayla Jackson scored her second goal of the season in the 20th minute from Alyssa White who assisted on her first goal of the season as well.
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Broncos are 2-0-2 on the year after opening with a 1-1 draw against Idaho on Aug. 18, before picking up their first win against Hawaii 3-1 on Aug. 20, tied Colorado on Aug. 27 in a scoreless match and most recently won 2-0 over Valparaiso on Aug. 30.
The all-time series between these two squads is 2-1-0 in favor of the Illini. The first meeting dates to Sept. 11, 1998, which Illinois won 2-1 in overtime in Louisville and the most recent matchup was on Aug. 17, 2012, which Illinois won 1-0 in Champaign. Thursday's showdown will be the first match played between the two teams in Kalamazoo.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
The Hokies are 4-0-2 on the season with their biggest win yet that happened on Aug. 30 taking down No. 22 Georgetown 2-1 in Washington D.C. They tied Big Ten opponent Maryland on Aug. 23, 2-2.
Virginia Tech has won the only matchup between the two teams, 1-0, which took place on Sept. 7, 2012, in Winston-Salem, N.C. Three Illini are set to face their former team as well as Ava Arengo, Kylie Marschall and Ashleigh Vizek all transferred from Virginia Tech to Illinois this season.
ILLINI NOTES
- Katie Hultin joins Jillian Ellis as the only head coaches in program history to remain unbeaten through their first four matches in their first two seasons.
- Izzy Lee has made 14 saves with two clean sheets so far this season. 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 five saves against Saint Louis on Aug. 27.
- Cayla Jackson has two goals and an assist on the season to lead the team in points with five.
- Alyssa White leads the team in assists with two, both of them coming on Cayla Jackson goals.
- Hedda Ornberg scored the game winner against Cincinnati for her first goal as an Illini off the assists from Ashlyn Adams and Jackson.
- 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.
- The 2026 Illini soccer season (1-0-3) is the only season in the program's history to have three ties in any four-match span.
- The program record for most ties in a season is four which was done twice, first in 2012 and most recently in 2022.
- 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.
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