After forcing a scoreless draw with Northwestern, Maryland women’s soccer stays in state to face Illinois on Sunday afternoon.
The Terps and Illini haven’t faced off since 2022, and the Terps haven’t visited Champaign, Ill., since 2021. Illinois won the last two matchups.
Sunday’s match will start at 3 p.m. from Demirjian Park and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Illinois Fighting Illini (4-5-2, 0-3-1 Big Ten)
Illinois comes into the match with the same Big Ten record as the Terps, 0-3-1. Illinois lost its last match Thursday to Nebraska, 1-0, on the road.
Illinois only lost two nonconference matches this season to SEC opponents Kentucky and Georgia.
Players to watch
Sarah Foley, junior forward, No. 18 — Foley leads the Illini with seven goals this season. With one assist as well, she has 15 points this year. Foley has a 29.2% shooting percentage with 24 shot attempts in her third season with Illinois.
Kennedy Berschel, fifth-year midfielder, No. 32 — Berschel has started all 11 matches for Illinois thus far in her fifth season with the squad. She has two goals and an assist this year, which is one assist short of her career-high in points in a season. Berschel has a 25% shooting percentage on eight shot attempts and three shots on goal in 2024.
Izzy Lee, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper, No. 1 — Lee is in her first season as the full-time starting goalkeeper for Illinois. The Western Springs, Ill., native has started all 11 matches for the Illini and has been a force in net. She has allowed 14 goals and made 66 saves this season.
Strength
Outscoring opponents. Illinois is outscoring opponents 20-14 this season.
Weakness
Corners. Illinois has had a tough time getting corners throughout the 2024 season. The Illini have only earned 50 corner opportunities, while opponents have earned 61 corners. The lack of corners has affected Illinois’ ability to create and maintain chances.
Three things to know
1. National TV. Maryland women’s soccer’s match with Illinois will be televised on the Big Ten Network Sunday. This is the first and only time the Terps will be broadcasted on television rather than a streaming platform.
2. Can Maryland’s defense keep it up? Maryland’s defensive core was strong in its last match at Northwestern, as the Terps refused to allow the Wildcats to score. As Maryland stays in the state of Illinois, the Terps will look to stay hot on the defensive side of the ball.
3. Can the Terps score a goal? The Terps have yet to score a goal against a Big Ten opponent this season. But, after building momentum during Thursday’s match, Sunday could be a big opportunity to snap that streak.
