University of Illinois
3-0-3, 0-0-0
Virginia Tech
4-1-3, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Virginia Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Illini Soccer Shutout Hokies, 1-0
September 6, 2026 | Soccer
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Illini soccer team (3-0-3) shut out Virginia Tech (4-1-3), 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at Thompson Field.
Ryleigh Wood scored her first career goal in the 44th minute after Gabriella Garcia-Terrell played the ball into the box to Ava Arengo who tapped it to a wide open Wood as she converted the chance. That is both Garcia-Terrell's and Arengo's first points as Illini.
The rest of the match was an Izzy Lee showcase as she made clutch saves down the stretch to preserve the shutout and earn her fourth clean sheet of the season. She made nine saves in total this afternoon but the one in the 59th minute was perhaps the best of the day.
Virginia Tech was playing a corner kick into the box that was headed on net by one of their strikers that would have scored had it not been for a diving Lee to punch it away at the last second with her left hand. She also stuffed a breakaway chance in the 86th minute as well to preserve the 1-0 Illini lead and eventual win.
The Hokies doubled up Illinois in shots, 20-10, and almost did as well in shots on goal, 9-4. However, the Illini defense withstood everything that was thrown their way and is coming back home from with a 2-0 record on the road trip. The Orange and Blue soccer squad returns to action at home on Thursday (Sept. 10) with No. 16 Wisconsin at 6 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Ryleigh Wood (1)
Assisted By: Ava Arengo , Gabriella Garcia-Terrell
GOAL by ILL Wood, Ryleigh Assist by Arengo, Ava and Garcia-Terrell, Gabriella.
43:22
