Indiana University
Illinois
IU Opens Up Big Ten Play at Home This Weekend
9/17/2015 3:19:00 PM | Women's Soccer
THIS WEEK
Friday, Sept.18 - Illinois (6-1-0) at Indiana (3-3-2)
Coverage: Watch | Live Stats
Promotion: #GoIU Water Bottle Giveaway
Sunday, Sept. 20 - Northwestern (6-1-1) at Indiana
Coverage: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Promotion: Bubble Soccer and enjoy a doubleheader with the Indiana Men's Soccer team, who host Rutgers at 3 p.m.
LINING UP WITH THE ILLINI
Illinois has started the season with a 6-1 mark, picking up wins against Oakland, Illinois State, TCU, St. Louis, Portland and Northern Kentucky. The Illini's only loss was a 2-1 decision to Washington on Sept. 4. Janelle Flaws is pacing the offense with eight goals and three assists to culminate in an impressive 19 points. Half of Flaws' goals have been game-winners for Illinois. Claire Wheatley has been solid in the net for the Illini, giving up just six goals and registering 27 saves.
Friday's matchup marks the 20th meeting in history between the two teams. Last season, Illinois earned a 2-0 win in Champaign. In 2013, the Hoosiers won both meetings as the squads met in the regular season and the Big Ten Tournament.
WATCHING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern is sitting at a 6-1-1 record and is coming off a pair of wins against Colorado and Colorado State. The Wildcats also recently played Missouri, a previous opponent of Indiana, in a game that ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Eight different players have scored for Northwestern, including two goals each from Addie Steiner, Maria Fayeulle and Michelle Manning. Goalkeeper Lauren Clem has recorded five shutouts and given up just three goals on the year.
Sunday's game is the 24th time the two teams have done battle, with Indiana holding a 11-10-2 series edge. The Hoosiers have picked up four straight wins, including a 1-0 overtime victory in Evanston, Ill. last season.
LAST TIME OUT
Indiana traveled to No. 13 Notre Dame on Friday night, falling to the Fighting Irish, 2-0. On Sunday, the Hoosiers returned home for the first time in three weeks to host Ball State. After the Cardinals broke the scoreless stalemate in the 73rd minute, senior Jessie Bujouves knocked in her second goal of the year to tie the game in the 84th minute, eventually leading to the draw outcome.
THAT'S A WRAP
IU finished up the non-conference portion of the season with a 3-3-2 mark. Highlights from the first part of the schedule:
•Three straight matchups against 2014 NCAA Tournament teams to open the season.
•A sweep at the Boilermaker Challenge Cup as the Hoosiers defeated Missouri and Baylor to be name the tournament champions. The victories included first goals in an Indiana uniform by Marissa Borschke and Cassidy Blacha.
•A scoreless streak of 463 minutes that ran from early in the first half against Virginia Tech on Aug. 21 to against LSU on Sept. 6. The stretch was the second-longest in Indiana program history.
•A 2-0 shutout of Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 4 that saw goals from Marissa Borschke and Maya Piper.
B1G TIME
Friday's game marks the start of the 2015 Big Ten season for both Indiana and Illinois. The Hoosiers are opening conference play at home for the third straight season.
Sunday's game against Northwestern will be shown live on the Big Ten Network at noon. Following the conclusion of the IU Women's Soccer game, the men's team will also be shown on BTN as they host Rutgers at 3 p.m.
STONE-WALLED
IU has been led on the defensive end by redshirt senior goalkeeper, Sarah Stone, who has registered a Big Ten Conference-leading 34 saves up to this point. For her career, the Evansville, Ind. native has recorded 142 saves, which ranks as sixth-most in Indiana program history. Over the weekend, Stone twice met her season high of seven saves against No. 13 Notre Dame and Ball State.
HOME FOR THE WEEKEND
The Hoosiers hosted Ball State last Sunday, but this Friday and Sunday marks the first full weekend of women's soccer at Armstrong Stadium since the season-opening Hoosier Classic. Friday's game will feature a #GoIU water bottle giveaway, while Sunday's meeting will showcase a game of bubble soccer.
WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR 2015?
The Hoosiers hit the road next weekend as they continue Big Ten play at Wisconsin and Minnesota, before returning home to host Iowa on Oct. 3. Other remaining home contests include Maryland, Ohio State and Purdue. Five Indiana opponents received a ranking in this week's NSCAA Top 25, including three upcoming competitors.
