Illinois soccer plays ranked foe to a draw in season opener

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) -- Illini soccer kicked off their season with a challenge. Illinois played 19th-ranked Georgia to a 0-0 draw in its first regular-season game at Demirjian Park for the 2026 season. "I think this builds our confidence a lot," head coach Katie Hultin said. "We were able to press them really well." "We were able to play within our identity and not make a whole lot of adjustments based on what they were throwing at us, and we got to play some new players, which was really fun." "Overall, I'm really happy with the result." After earning all-conference honors last season, Izzy Lee earned her first shutout of the year, making four saves. The Bulldogs outshot the Illini 6-4. Next up, the Orange and Blue host Cincinnati on Thursday, August 20. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.