Huskers Host Illinois, #15 Penn State

The Nebraska soccer team (3-6-0, 0-3-0 Big Ten) is looking to bounce back after a four-match losing skid as the Huskers host a pair of conference foes in Illinois and #15 Penn State. Both matches will be played at Hibner Stadium, as NU faces the Fighting Illini on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. (CT) and the Nittany Lions on Sunday at 12 p.m. (CT). Thursday’s match will be streamed on Big Ten Plus, while Sunday’s game will be aired nationally on BTN. 

Fans can purchase general admission and single match tickets to each game by calling 1-800-8 BIG RED or by visiting Huskers.com/tickets. 

Next Up

The Huskers travel to Wisconsin to face the Badgers on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. (CT). The match will be streamed on Big Ten Plus and live stats can be found on Huskers.com. 

Numbers to Watch

• Sarah Weber, a 2024 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, recorded her second career hat trick against Creighton earlier this season. It’s the 36th hat trick in school history and second of the 2024 season for Weber.
• Weber is also third in school history with 290 total shots, sitting behind Meghan Anderson (344) in second, and ninth in shots on goal with 118, five behind Brittany Timko in eighth. Additionally, Weber is currently in sixth in the country in shots per game, as she is averaging 5.00.
• Florence Belzile is currently ninth all-time in Husker history with 25 career assists, just two shy of Lindsay Eddleman in eighth. Jordan Zade, the team’s assists leader, has four on the season. 

Quick Notes

• The Huskers have 10 regular-season home games scheduled for their 10th season at Hibner Stadium in 2024. 
• NU returns three of four All-Big Ten performers from last season, seniors Weber, Haley Peterson and Zade. Nebraska’s all-time all-conference total increased to 110, including 38 honorees since joining the Big Ten in 2011.
• During the 2023 season, the Huskers averaged 1,326 fans per game at Hibner Stadium, third most in Husker history and 15th in the nation. To start the 2024 season, NU has averaged 6,417 fans, good for sixth in the country. This season’s match against Creighton garnered 2,382 fans, second-most all-time at Hibner Stadium. 

Scouting Illinois

• Illinois finished the 2023 season with a 6-8-3 mark overall and 2-6-2 record in conference play. The Huskers topped Illinois 4-2 to close the season, and Illinois didn’t qualify for postseason play. 
• The Fighting Illini are 4-4-2 on the season with quality wins over DePaul and Illinois State. After traveling to Nebraska on Thursday, Illinois will host Maryland on Sunday. 
• Head Coach Janet Rayfield is in her 23rd season at the helm of the Illinois soccer program. The winningest coach in Illinois soccer history holds a 230-179-45 career record, while totalling 104 conference victories. 
• Illinois leads the all-time series 8-6-0 between the two teams. NU has won the last three matchups. 

Scouting #15 Penn State 

• In the 2023 season, Penn State finished 16-3-4 overall and made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, but fell 2-1 to top-ranked Clemson. 
• Penn State has opened the 2024 season with an 8-2-1 record and six shutouts. The Nittany Lions face #18 Iowa on Thursday night before its matchup against Nebraska on Sunday. 
• Head Coach Erica Dambach is in her 18th season at Penn State and 31st season overall. With the Nittany Lions, Dambach holds a 282-94-30 record. 
• Penn State leads the all-time series between the programs, 7-3-2, dating back to 2011. Most recently, PSU topped Nebraska in 2023, 1-0.