Michigan
Illinois
Michigan to Welcome Illinois for Big Ten Opener, Senior Day
9/14/2021 1:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer
» Michigan will honor its 11-member senior class prior to the match.
» U-M enters the week ranked No. 21 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll.
» The Wolverines are averaging 22.25 shots per match, a number that ranks No. 7 in the NCAA.
THIS WEEK
Friday, Sept. 17 -- vs. Illinois (U-M Soccer Stadium), 5 p.m.
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PROMOTIONS
• Sept. 17: Senior Day -- Join us prior to the match as Michigan's 11 seniors are honored on the field.
• Full Promotions Schedule
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The No. 21-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team (6-1-1) returns home to open Big Ten Conference play, hosting Illinois (4-3-0) on Friday (Sept. 17) at 5 p.m. inside U-M Soccer Stadium. Before the matchup, the Wolverines will honor the 11 members of its senior class.
Wolverine Bites
• Prior to facing the Illini, Michigan will honor the 11 members of its senior class: Skylar Anderson, Sammi Atterbury, Hillary Beall, Meredith Haakenson, Nicki Hernandez, Janiece Joyner, Raleigh Loughman, Alia Martin, Izzy Nino, Sydney Shepherd, Sarah Stratigakis.
• Through eight matches, U-M is outshooting opponents 178-60 and is outscoring teams 16-4. The Wolverines rank No. 7 in the NCAA in the shot category (22.25 per match) and tops in the Big Ten. With 2.00 goals per match, U-M ranks No. 6 in the Big Ten. The 13 goals have come from seven different Wolverines, led by Nicki Hernandez with five.
• Hernandez is tied for second in the conference in total goals (five), and ranks No. 4 in the conference in shots (33, 4.13/match) and shots on goal (14, 1.75/match). Her 12 points (1.50/match) rank No. 8 in the league.
• Michigan completed non-conference play with a 6-1-1 mark, its best non-conference record under Jennifer Klein. The fourth-year head coach now owns a non-conference record of 15-5-2 in her three seasons that have featured non-conference play. The 2020 schedule feature a conference-only slate.
• U-M has conceded only four goals this season, the fewest through eight games since the 2013 season. The mark ranks as the fourth lowest in the Big Ten.
• The Wolverines are 4-0-1 on the season when scoring first.
• In the latest United Soccer Coaches poll (Sept. 14), Michigan is ranked No. 21. In the latest WoSo Independent Ranks, U-M is at No. 29 in unadjusted RPI and boasts a strength of schedule of 33.
• With a 2-1 win over Cincinnati on Friday (Sept. 12), U-M earned its 300th win as a varsity program. Debbie (Belkin) Rademacher (1994-07) leads the program in career victories with 160, while Greg Ryan (2008-17) owns 103 wins. Head coach Jennifer Klein boasts 37 wins to bring U-M to the milestone.
• Entering Big Ten play, the conference as a whole has a 68-23-14 record, a .714 winning percentage.
Opponent Preview
Illinois
All-time series against the Illini: U-M leads 16-9-1
The Illini enter the week with a 4-3 overall record and are coming off a 1-0 win at Toledo last Friday (Sept. 12). In terms of common opponents, the Illini fell to Butler 3-1 on Aug. 29, and defeated Bowling Green 5-1 on Sept. 9.
Hope Breslin leads the team in goals with five, while Makena Silber boasts four goals and two helpers (10 points).
The two sides met in the spring, with U-M earning a 2-0 victory on March 25. Michigan has won the last three matchups in the all-time series.
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 23 -- at Rutgers (Piscataway, N.J.), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 26 -- vs. Wisconsin (U-M Soccer Stadium), Noon
