Nebraska Set For Two-Game Illinois Road Trip

Nebraska at Illinois
Thursday, March 18 • 2:30 p.m. (CT)
Demirjian Park
Champaign, Ill.
 
» TV: BTN
» Live Stats: FightingIllini.com
» Twitter Updates: @NebraskaSoccer

Nebraska at Northwestern

Sunday, March 21 • Noon (CT)

Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium

Evanston, Ill.

 

» TV: BTN+

» Live Stats: NUSports.com

» Twitter Updates: @NebraskaSoccer

For its final away games of the regular season, the Nebraska women’s soccer team hits the road to face Illinois on Thursday, March 18 and Northwestern on Sunday, March 21. The Husker’s game against the Illini will kick off at 2:30 p.m. (CT) from Champaign with television coverage by BTN and Chris Vosters and Jackie Santacaterina Manny calling the match. Sunday’s game against the Wildcats will start at noon (CT) in Evanston and can be streamed on BTN+. 

Last Time Out

Nebraska and Wisconsin fought to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, March 13 at Hibner Stadium. The team played its second consecutive overtime game and earned its second shutout of the season. Nebraska outshot the Badgers 11-5 in the tie and took five corners while allowing the Badgers just one on the day.

Next Up

Following its Illinois road trip, the Huskers return home to close the regular season with three home games. The home stand starts on Thursday, March 25 against Rutgers at 1:05 p.m. (CT). 

Kicking Off

• All four of the Huskers’ goals this season are by players who have previously not scored in a Nebraska uniform. Freshmen Eleanor Dale, who scored twice against Purdue, and Reagan Raabe, who scored the first goal against Michigan, netted Nebraska’s first three goals of the season. Sophomore Marissa Popoola scored her first career goal off a corner in the game against the Wolverines.  
• Goalkeeper Makinzie Short made three saves in the Huskers’ last outing against Wisconsin, tying her career high and recording her second career blank sheet.
• Nebraska will make its second TV appearance of the season with BTN’s coverage of Thursday’s game against Illinois. 
• The Huskers are 0-1-1 on the road this season after starting the postponed season at Minnesota and Michigan State. Nebraska is 97-87-19 all-time in away games. 
• With the tie against Wisconsin, Nebraska has two shutouts on the year. Nebraska has recorded a shutout in every season since the program began in 1994. 
• Through the first five weeks of the season, Nebraska sits at 11th in the conference standings. 

Scouting the Illinois Fighting Illini

• Illinois is 3-2-1 this season, earning wins over Purdue, Iowa and Indiana. 
• In their last match, the Illini defeated Indiana, 1-0, on a goal from Eileen Murphy in the 49th minute. 
• Goalkeeper Sami Sample earned College Soccer News Women’s National Player of the Week after recording her fourth shutout of the season against the Hoosiers.
• The team has an RPI rank of 98 headed into the fifth week of the season and is receiving votes for the United Soccer Coaches Poll. 
• Illinois is tabbed to finished tenth in the conference in the 2020-21 Big Ten Preseason Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll. 
• Head coach Janet Rayfield is 205-146-35 at the helm of the Illini and is in her 19th year at Illinois. She is assisted by Jeff Freeman, Lisa Lubke and Nichole Tiggs. 
• 2020-21 Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch: 

  • #10 Hope Breslin (Senior M): Has played and started every game for the Illini the last three seasons, including this year. Has 11 shots this season with six on goal. 
  • #33 Ashley Cathro (Sophomore D): Has started each game of the season for the Illinois backline. Has tallied three shots this season with two on target. 
  • #20 Makena Silber (Junior F): Has started all but three games for Illinois in her career and scored the game-winning goal in the season opener against Purdue. 

Scouting the Northwestern Wildcats

• Northwestern is 3-3 on the year, including wins over Indiana, Maryland and Iowa. 
• In their last match, the Wildcats dropped a 0-1 decision against Purdue. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood matched her season-high of four saves while Josie Aulicino led the squad with three shots in the game. The team will meet Wisconsin on Thursday before hosting the Huskers. 
• The team was voted to finish seventh in the conference in the Big Ten’s preseason poll. 
• The Wildcats are receiving votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Poll and has an RPI rank of 180.
• Northwestern is tabbed to finish seventh in the conference according to the preseason Big Ten poll. 
• Head coach Michael Moyhihan is 79-67-24 at the helm of the Wildcats and is in his ninth year at Northwestern. He is assisted by David Nikolic, Morgan Ruhl and Tom Homa. 
• 2020-21 Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch: 

  • #4 Regan Steigleder (Senior M): Assisted the game-winning goal in the seaon opener against Indiana and scored her first goal of the season against Iowa. 
  • #10 Olivia Stone (Junior F): Scored her first career goal, and the game-winning goal, against Maryland. Scored again against Iowa to help the team to its third win of the season. 
  • #1 Mackenzie Wood (Junior GK): Recorded her tenth shutout and made four saves in the win against Iowa. Has three shutouts on the year.