After a disappointing West Coast trip and a weeklong hiatus, a battered Maryland women’s soccer squad returns home.
On their trip, the Terps failed to score a goal and only notched six combined shots in losses
to USC and No. 4 UCLA. However, the last match against UCLA was a much more promising result — Maryland held the match scoreless for over 70 minutes until a goal from Bella Winn broke the ice in the 71st minute. The Bruins were able to hold off the Terps and eke out a 1-0 victory, but Maryland was competitive.
Returning to College Park, Maryland hopes to snap its two-game losing streak against Illinois. The Fighting Illini are coming off a blowout loss to No. 23 Ohio State and look to achieve their third win in conference play this season. Illinois narrowly defeated Maryland last season, 1-0, in a nail-biter and are 4-1 in their last five matchups.
The match will take place at noon on Sunday at Ludwig Field and will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Illinois Fighting Illini (9-2-1, 2-2-1 Big Ten)
2024 record: (8-8-2, 4-6-1 Big Ten)
Head coach Michael Marchiano will have his hands full against Illinois, a team with a 6-1 road record whose veteran core utterly dominated in non-conference play. Rookie head coach Katie Hultin led the Fighting Illini to the strongest start in program history, going 8-0-1 in their first nine matches.
Illinois’ win against then-No. 18 Penn State has been the highlight of the season. Its offense exhibited top-tier goalscoring and overpowering passing throughout the match in a takedown of a top team.
Players to watch
Sarah Foley, senior forward, No. 18 — Foley has had a breakout year on the frontline. She leads Illinois with six goals, including a hat trick against Valparaiso and decider against Oregon. Her combination of offensive dominance and clutch shotmaking make her a handful for any Big Ten defense.
Ashlyn Adams, freshman forward, No. 23 — Adams has ten starts on the season and has solidified herself as a key piece on the Illinois’ offense. Her pair of assists in the Penn State match proved crucial in delivering the upset, but she still searches for her maiden goal.
Izzy Lee, redshirt junior goalkeeper, No. 1 — With an impressive .866 save percentage, Lee has been a steadfast anchor for a comparatively average Illinois backline. Her clean sheet against Oregon proved crucial in the win as she looks to perform similarly against the Terps.
Strength
Goal differential. The Fighting Illini tout an astonishing plus-12 goal differential on the season and continually are able to outscore and overwhelm weaker opponents. They have also only allowed nine goals through 12 matches this season.
Weakness
Opposing shots on goal percentage. Defensive positioning has been a season-long issue for Illinois, as opponents have a .507 shots on goal percentage. If enough shots are rifled off, Lee may have an issue in goal.
Three things to watch
1. Can Maryland keep defying expectations? Picked to finish last in the Big Ten this season, getting multiple conference wins has already been a season highlight for the Terps. A win against a strong Illinois team would only continue to prove preseason doubters wrong.
2. What has the offense learned? Offensive production was a particularly poor aspect of Maryland’s California slate, as it was scoreless through both matches. The Terps could use a spark on offense to take down an Illinois backline that is already prone to making mistakes.
3. Will the defense deliver? After the shellacking Maryland took in its 3-0 loss to USC, Maryland’s defense made many necessary corrections before the match against UCLA to keep the score close. The Terps will need to continue this momentum on Sunday and cut off all lanes against the Fighting Illini’s premier passing attack.
