Thursday, October 19
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Illinois
Photo by: Kelly Branigan
No. 14 Michigan State Hosts Illinois Thursday at DeMartin
10/18/2023 3:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -Â 14th-ranked Michigan State women's soccer returns to DeMartin Stadium for its penultimate match of the regular season, hosting Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
Thursday's match will stream on B1G+ with live stats available on MSUSpartans.com.
PARKING NOTE: Fans are encouraged to park in Lots 62 and 79 for Thursday's match due to an MSU hockey game at 7 p.m. Parking in these lots will be $5.
FIRST TOUCH
The Spartans enter Thursday's match at 10-3-3 (5-1-2 B1G) after knocking off Rutgers, 2-0, on Oct. 15 in Piscataway. The win was the first ever for the Spartans on the road against Rutgers and marked the completion of MSU's second-straight season remaining unbeaten in B1G road contests. Freshman forward/midfielder Bella Najera scored the opening goal in MSU's win at Rutgers for her sixth goal of the season, while graduate defender Celia Gaynor added a second-half goal off a Regan Dalton corner kick for her first goal of the season. Najera earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for the third time this season on Oct. 17.
In the league standings, MSU sits in a three-way tie for second alongside Nebraska and Indiana with 17 points. Penn State stands alone in first with 18 points.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Illinois is led by 22nd-year head coach Janet Rayfield, who holds a 226-173-43 record during her time in Champaign. The Fighting Illini enter Sunday's match at 6-6-3 (2-4-2 B1G) after earning a 2-1 home win against Purdue on Oct. 15. Sophomore midfielder/forward Lia Howard leads Illinois in points (12), goals (4) and assists (4) this season. Senior goalkeeper Julia Cili leads the conference in saves (75) and saves per game (5.36).
STORY OF THE SERIES
Thursday's match marks the 29th all-time between the Spartans and Illini. Illinois holds a 21-4-3 edge in the series, including a 6-2-1 record in East Lansing. MSU defeated Illinois on the road last season, 3-0, on Sept. 18 for its first win against the Illini since a home win on Sept. 20, 2002. MSU's two remaining wins against the Illini came on Oct. 19, 1997 (away) and Oct. 1, 1999 (home).
UP NEXT
MSU stays at home to host Iowa in its final match of the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
Thursday's match will stream on B1G+ with live stats available on MSUSpartans.com.
PARKING NOTE: Fans are encouraged to park in Lots 62 and 79 for Thursday's match due to an MSU hockey game at 7 p.m. Parking in these lots will be $5.
FIRST TOUCH
The Spartans enter Thursday's match at 10-3-3 (5-1-2 B1G) after knocking off Rutgers, 2-0, on Oct. 15 in Piscataway. The win was the first ever for the Spartans on the road against Rutgers and marked the completion of MSU's second-straight season remaining unbeaten in B1G road contests. Freshman forward/midfielder Bella Najera scored the opening goal in MSU's win at Rutgers for her sixth goal of the season, while graduate defender Celia Gaynor added a second-half goal off a Regan Dalton corner kick for her first goal of the season. Najera earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for the third time this season on Oct. 17.
In the league standings, MSU sits in a three-way tie for second alongside Nebraska and Indiana with 17 points. Penn State stands alone in first with 18 points.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Illinois is led by 22nd-year head coach Janet Rayfield, who holds a 226-173-43 record during her time in Champaign. The Fighting Illini enter Sunday's match at 6-6-3 (2-4-2 B1G) after earning a 2-1 home win against Purdue on Oct. 15. Sophomore midfielder/forward Lia Howard leads Illinois in points (12), goals (4) and assists (4) this season. Senior goalkeeper Julia Cili leads the conference in saves (75) and saves per game (5.36).
STORY OF THE SERIES
Thursday's match marks the 29th all-time between the Spartans and Illini. Illinois holds a 21-4-3 edge in the series, including a 6-2-1 record in East Lansing. MSU defeated Illinois on the road last season, 3-0, on Sept. 18 for its first win against the Illini since a home win on Sept. 20, 2002. MSU's two remaining wins against the Illini came on Oct. 19, 1997 (away) and Oct. 1, 1999 (home).
UP NEXT
MSU stays at home to host Iowa in its final match of the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
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