The Colorado College women's soccer team faces its stiffest test of the young season this Sunday when the undefeated Tigers play their first road game at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Kickoff for the first-ever game at Demirjian Park is set for 1 p.m. CT.
Fans can watch this week's game on Big Ten Network Plus (
https://www.btnplus.com/game/colorado-college-at-illinois-on-09152019).
CC enters Sunday's contest with a 4-0-0 record after defeating Western Michigan University, 3-1, last Sunday at Washburn Field. The Illini will take a 4-1 record into Thursday's game at Butler University in Indianapolis, which is the last of four consecutive road contests. Illinois is 2-0 at home this season with wins over Loyola University Chicago (3-1) and the University of Dayton (3-2).
The Illini hold a 2-0 lead in the all-time series, which is being renewed for the first time since 2008. In the first-ever meeting in 1999, Illinois posted a 2-1 overtime victory in Colorado Springs. In the most recent meeting in Champaign, the Illini earned a 2-0 win.
Colorado College averages 3.0 goals per game and concedes just 0.75. Junior midfielder
Jenna Wilt, who owns two goals and a team-leading six assists, leads the team with 10 points. Sophomore forward
Jacqui Hand is first with four goals and second with nine points, while sophomore forward
Kiley Suter is second with five assists and third with seven points. Junior defender
Tayla Wheeler has a pair of goals.
Freshman
Abby Opperman is 3-0-0 in goal and owns a 0.40 goals-against average and a .889 saves percentage. Senior
Molly Hiniker (Edina, MN) owns a 1-0-0 record, along with a 1.33 goals-against average and a .750 saves percentage.
Colorado College's back line of
Camille Weaver,
Kayla Montoya,
Toni Tsamasfyros and Wheeler, along with holding midfielders
Madeline Stesney and
Johanna Hamblett, have been spectacular during the first four games of the season. The Tigers have conceded just three goals, one of which was an own goal, and are tied for the Mountain West lead with a 0.75 GAA.
Five members of CC's 2019 recruiting class earned playing time during the first four games of the season. Defender
Alexa Porter became the first newcomer to earn a point when she recorded an assist on Wilt's goal against Siena College. Midfielder
Hailee Rasmussen started all five games and ranks sixth on the team with 285 minutes, while Opperman has three starts to her credit.
Illinois averages 2.4 goals per game while conceding 2.0. Junior midfielder Hope Breslin and senior midfielder Arianna Veland lead the Illini with three goals apiece. Breslin also has a team-high two assists and eight points. Veland is second with six points, one more than junior midfielder Maggie Hillman, who has produced five points on two goals and an assist.
Colorado College plays its final non-conference game of the season when Southern Illinois University visits Colorado Springs for the first-ever meeting between the programs on Sunday, Sept. 20. The following week, the Tigers kick off their 11-game Mountain West schedule by playing host to San Jose State University and Fresno State on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
