HEY HOT SHOTS!!

Illinois is attempting to break the Big Ten home attendance record this weekend in hosting our 4th annual SoccerFest on Sunday. We will be playing against Minnesota at 1 p.m. for our Big Ten Season Opener and it will be televised LIVE on the Big Ten Network.

There will be FREE FOOD for the FIRST 2000 Fans, so come out early and get something to eat before the game!  The Orange and Blue are an undefeated 3-0-0 for SoccerFest and are looking to add another win onto the record this Sunday.  Minnesota hasn’t won a game vs the Illini in the last five years, lets make it six in a row!  Also just in, Former Illini great and current Chicago Red Star, Ella Masar, will be reporting from the sideline for the Big Ten Network!!

Pre-game festivities include free food while it lasts, live music, and other giveaways. Admission to the event is free as usual, with the gates opening at 11:30 a.m. and the game starting at 1 p.m.  So why don’t you come out have some fun on a lazy Sunday Afternoon and enjoy some nice warm 70 degree weather with your friends?

RECAP!!
Who:   YOU!!
What:  SOCCERFEST!!
When:  This Sunday the 27th at 1 PM (Gates open at 11:30 AM)
Where:  Illini Soccer Stadium on Kirby
Why:    Free Food, Great Weather, and It’s the Big Ten Season Opener!!

Illinois soccer got back to its winning ways on Friday night, rockin’ the socks off of Loyola-Chicago 2-0.  The girls owned a 19-8 shot attempt margin (9 of which were on goal) and keeper Alexendra Kapicka also picked up her 12th career shut-out.  After taking 5 Loyola defenders to school but barely having her shot sail wide of the post, Sophomore Marissa Mykines smashed an unassisted shot into the goal in the 28th minute.  Sophomore Julie (Juice) Ewing had a close attempt as well, but the Rambler’s goal keeper just barely managed to poke it away at the last second.  Loyola was never really able to get any momentum going thanks to the solid team play on defense, but just to be certain, team-leading-goal-scorer Jordan Hilbrands put the game away in the 85th after she buried a beautifully crossed ball by Senior Chichi Nweke in the back of the net for her 6th on the season.

The Illini continued their weekend romp with another win on a rainy Sunday over UM-Milwaukee 3-1.  Freshman Shayla Mutz caught on fire with 2 huge goals (1st and 2nd in her career) to put the girls ahead in the 6th.  UM-W came back though to tie things up right before half, but early in the 2nd half, Junior Christina Sahly ripped a no-look curling shot into the far left post from outside 18 after receiving an awesome though-ball from Juice.  Mutz put the icing on the cake with her second goal of the night in the 85th.

Hey Hot Shots!!

This was a huge weekend for Soccer as your #11 Illini took on #9 UCLA as well as UCSB in the Illini Challenge Cup putting their mark on the season at 3-1-1.  On Friday, we barely fell to UCLA 2-1 in a nail-bitter-to-the-end.  Both teams played their hearts out, but the difference was the quick goal the Bruins scored in the 4th minute.  Senior Chichi Nweke scored her first goal (18th for her career) on the season right before halftime, but a Bruin surge early in the 2nd half led to the deciding goal. The girls played some of the best soccer of the season, but even their continuous bombardment at the end of the game could not produce an equalizer.

The team bounced back Sunday though to crush the Gauchos 3-0 in a completely dominating performance by our side.  Junior Jordan Hilbrands had 2 quick goals right off the start, and Nicki Read had a goal and assist later in the game, helping her to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.  Sophomore Marissa Mykines also tallied up 2 assists.

The girls are away at Portland and Washington this weekend, and return home for their match against Loyola on Friday, Sep. 18th at 7pm.  More info to come soon!

Last but definitely not least, Akhil and I want to thank you all for coming out to both of the games and I know Coach Rayfield, the team, and the parents all appreciated our support.  Lets keep it up and show why we deserve to keep our crown as the Big Ten School with the highest home attendance!!

As of this past year, the Big Ten has chosen to lift its ban on noisemakers.  So, for this Friday’s game vs. #9 UCLA @7pm we are having a BUILD YOUR OWN NOISEMAKER CONTEST!! It should be pretty self-explanatory: build/bring something that makes a lot of noise so we can make it even harder for opponents to come play on our home turf.

Also, we will be giving away prizes to the 2 craziest, most supportive Illini Soccer Fans at the game.  The winners’ prizes are still TBA, but we will be giving away lots of signed posters as well as tons of other Illini memorabilia!!

HEY HOT SHOTS!!!

Is it just me or are you counting down the days til soccer season is once again here?!  Well, your Illini are already 3 games into the season and are still undefeated at 2-0-1!  Head coach Janet Rayfield returns one of the top offenses in the Big Ten and is looking to turn some heads on the national soccer scene.  In the last two seasons, the Illini are 20-2-2 at home and neutral sites which featured 18 shutouts, a 13 game home winning streak and a current 6 game home winning streak!

After coming off of a 12-9-2 record and battling their way to the Sweet 16 of the 2008 NCAA Championship last year, the Illini Soccer team looks to continue their success even farther this year as a contender for the BigTen Title and a threat deep into the postseason.  Illinois returns 14 letterwinners and 8 starters from last year’s squad and adds 6 talented newcomers to take on a schedule that includes 6 teams that advanced to the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

The Illini were ranked 17th in the pre-season NCAA coaches poll, but have now jumped up to 13th in the nation after crushing ISU 4-0, cruising by  #18 Colorado with 2 goals and a 53rd minute game-winning strike by Jordan Hilbrands to seal a 2-1 lead, and a double overtime 1-1 tie with Denver.  UCLA was originally ranked 5th in the preseason but have since slid to #9 after an embarrassing loss to No. 1 North Carolina 7-2.

This is the toughest opponent the girls will go against all year and they need as many people out there to support them! UCLA has made the Final Four 7 years in a row and their coach was Illinois’ first head coach. They are making a trip out to Illinois and we need to show them what Illinois Soccer is all about and send them home wishing they didn’t meet us. Bring your noisemaker,  loud voices and your friends to cheer on our girls to victory.

The Big Ten Network will be at the game which means you have the opportunity to be on TV! Paint your faces, chest, or whatever. We want to look like the craziest soccer fans in the nation. We are even doing a crazy fan contest and giving out prizes to the craziest and loudest fans at the game.

Come out and cheer on the girls and have the opportunity to win some raffle prizes.

See you Friday and Go Illini!

Brandon and Akhil

RECAP:
WHAT: #13 ILLINOIS vs. #9 UCLA
WHEN: FRIDAY, SEPT 4TH @ 7 PM
WHERE: ILLINOIS SOCCER AND TRACK STADIUM
WHY: “BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR” AND PRIZE RAFFLES

Illini goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka is up for the Soccer News Net National Player of the Year award…and she needs your votes! Visit the website listed below and vote for Alex early and often! Let’s help one of our fellow Illini get the recognition that she deserves!

http://chicagolandsoccernews.com/college/wplayerpoll.php

After battling their way to the Sweet 16, the Illini Soccer team fell to #1 seed North Carolina, 3-0, on Saturday, to end their NCAA Tournament run.  The Illini finished the year with a 12-9-2 record.

CONGRATS TO THE ILLINI ON A GREAT SEASON!

After notching overtime victories over Memphis and Missouri this weekend, the Illini soccer team has advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.  The team will now face North Carolina this Saturday at 4:30 PM.

Emily Zurrer’s first half goal gave the Illini a 1-0 senior night win over the Purdue Boilermakers tonight. Click the link below for a game recap.

http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/recaps/103108aaa.html 

With the win, the Illini have clinched the #5 seed for the Big Ten tournament, which begins on November 6th at Iowa City.  They will face Michigan State in their opening round game.