The Illinois men’s soccer club heads into the weekend with high hopes of maintaining their reputation on the national scene. On Saturday, the Illini (7-1-1) will travel to face the University of Dayton (8-1-0).

This is a pivotal match for both teams this season, determining where they will stand both in the conference and at the national level.

“It is a must win game,” said head coach and senior midfielder Rickie Partyka. “It has a strong influence on our power rankings.”

Last season the team beat Dayton in the regional final. This season they will face a more intense Dayton team, one that has taken their game to the next level.

“If we want to get above them, we have to come out and get a victory this weekend,” said senior midfielder Allen Barton.

Last year, the Illini won the Midwest Alliance Soccer Conference tournament and advanced to nationals, only to lose to North Texas in the round of 16.

This season, with only one loss to a tough Michigan team and a tie against Indiana, the team is poised to make a longer run in the postseason.

The team is projected to receive a No. 2 seed in the regional tournament, with Michigan expecting to be No. 1.

When they faced Michigan earlier this season, the Illini were already drained from having to play a tough match against Indiana earlier that same day. The team believes that they can boost their intensity level when it comes to regional play, and will be able to defeat Michigan if they have to face them again.

“I feel like we can beat anyone if we play our game,” said senior midfielder Dave Brown.

The Illini are a top caliber team nationally every year, and believe that this year is no different.

“We set our goals high,” said Barton. “Our first goal is to qualify for nationals. We also strive to win our regional tournament every year.”

As long as the team avoids injuries, and the significant contributions from freshmen continue, they believe they will remain on the national radar.

But for now, they will approach the rest of the season game by game, beginning with the match against Dayton on Saturday.

“Every game, every goal is important for the entire season,” said Barton.