No. 17 Women's Soccer Set to Face Illinois on Thursday Evening

Thursday, August 24

Cincinnati, Ohio

7:30 PM

Xavier University

Illinois

No. 17 Women's Soccer Set to Face Illinois on Thursday Evening

08.23.23 | Women's Soccer

Live Stats Live Stream

Musketeers and Illini get underway at 7:30 PM at Corcoran Field

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - No. 17 Xavier women's soccer (2-0-0) returns to Corcoran Field to host Illinois on Thursday evening, set for a 7:30 p.m. ET start. The match with the Illini, which was pushed back from the original start time of 7:00 p.m. due to extreme heat expected in the area, will be live streamed on FloSports.

After opening the season with a pair of 2-0 wins, over Northeastern and Louisville, the Musketeers moved into the United Soccer Coaches Top 25, coming in at No. 17 this week.

GAME DETAILS

vs. Illinois
Thursday, August 24 - 7:30 PM
Corcoran Field - Cincinnati

GAME DETAILS

Xavier wraps up a three-game home stand to open the season with Illinois, who enter the match at 1-0.
The Illini opened the season with a 3-2 win over Loyola Chicago last Thursday.
Illinois went 7-7-4 last season with a 2-5-3 record in Big Ten play.
Xavier is 1-2 all time against the Illini.
The Musketeers last faced Illinois in 2021, taking a 2-1 win in Urbana-Champaign.

WEEKLY AWARDS

After Xavier women's soccer opened the 2023 season with a pair of shutout wins, sophomore Maria Galley was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week.
Galley, originally from South Windsor, Conn., played the full time in goal in both of Xavier's 2-0 wins over the weekend. Through 180 minutes of action, Galley collected five saves to help Xavier to a pair of shutouts, bringing her career totals to 16 wins and 13 shutouts.
Additionally, junior Ella Rogers was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
Rogers, a midfielder from Granville, Ohio, collected three points in Xavier's win over Louisville on Sunday, scoring the game-winner on a PK in the first half, then assisting on Sonia Vargas' insurance goal in the second half. Rogers played 158 minutes in the midfield for the Musketeers through their 2-0 weekend, helping Xavier to two shutouts. Her three points so far match Kennedy Clark for team-high.

LAST TIME OUT

The Musketeers picked up a 2-0 win over the Louisville Cardinals on Sunday evening at Corcoran Field to move to 2-0 on the season.
Xavier went ahead 1-0 midway through the first half on a penalty kick from Ella Rogers, after Regan Dancer drew a foul in the box.
The Musketeers held the one-goal advantage into the second half before adding an insurance goal in the 60th minute, with Sonia Vargas scoring from Jane Olcott and Ella Rogers.
Maria Galley collected four saves to help keep the Cardinals off the board for the Musketeers' second shutout of the season.
Ella Rogers finished with three points, scoring her first goal of the season on a PK and picking up an assist on Sonia Vargas' goal. Rogers' goal was the game-winner.
Sonia Vargas' second half goal was her first of the season.
Jane Olcott picked up a point on an assist on Vargas' goal.
Louisville finished with a 9-8 advantage on shots, bu the Musketeers held a 6-4 advantage on looks on-frame, which each team finishing with four saves.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Xavier heads out on the road for its first road trip of the season, facing WKU in Bowling Green, Ky., on Sunday, August 27, at 2:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
The Hilltoppers are 1-0-1, playing Tennessee Tech to a 1-1 draw in the season opener, and picking up a 5-0 win over Union University (Tenn.) last Sunday. WKU will host Siena on Thursday evening.
Western Kentucky went 7-9-3 overall and 4-5-1 in Conference USA play in 2022, falling to North Texas in the first round of the CUSA Championship.
The Musketeers are 1-1 all-time against the Hilltoppers.
Xavier topped Western Kentucky 1-0 in Cincinnati last season, with Simone Rivard-Roberts scoring the game winner in the 45^th minute.

2022 SEASON

Xavier, which is currently ranked No. 17 after receiving votes in the USC Preseason Poll, is coming off a 14-4-5 season in 2022.
The Musketeers went 6-0-4 in BIG EAST play to finish second in the league standings, marking the first unbeaten conference slate in program history.
Xavier earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship for a second-straight season, the program's fifth NCAA bid overall.
In the NCAA Tournament, Xavier advanced for the second time in program history with a 4-1 double overtime win at Tennessee in the first round.

THE MUSKETEERS

The Musketeers return 19 letterwinners in all from last season, and added a pair of transfers in addition to a 10-person freshman class for the 2023 season.
Xavier returns a trio of all-conference honorees from last season, with goalkeeper Maria Galley and defender Natalie Bain earning All-BIG EAST Second Team and All-Freshman Team honors, and forward Regan Dancer picking up a nod to the All-Freshman squad.
Bain and junior midfielder Ella Rogers were selected to the 2023 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.

BIG EAST COACHES POLL

BIG EAST Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown 100 (10)
2. Xavier             89 (1)
3. St. John's       73
4. Butler             69
5. Creighton       67
6. UConn            63
7. Providence    47
8. Marquette     34
9. Villanova        33
10. DePaul         16
11. Seton Hall    14

Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Abby Isger, Butler, R-Sr., F

Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Grad., D*

Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Grad., GK*

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Abby Isger, Butler, R-Sr., F
Talia Sommer, Butler, So., F/M
Chioma Okafor, UConn, So., F
Lara Kazandjan, Creighton, Sr., M
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Grad., GK*
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Grad., D*
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Jr., M
Meg Hughes, Providence, Sr., F
Jessica Garziano, St. John's, Grad., F
Natalie Bain, Xavier, So., D
Ella Rogers, Xavier, Jr., M
*unanimous selection

XAVIER SOCCER ON FLOSPORTS

Fans can sign up now to watch Xavier Athletics on FloSports! Men's and women's soccer and volleyball air on the streaming platform this fall, while women's basketball and baseball will be available later this academic year.
Xavier will broadcast every home soccer and volleyball match that isn't produced by the BIG EAST Digital Network. Both broadcasts will be available for fans to watch on FloSports.

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