Illinois’ last win was on its home turf against Northwestern on Sept. 20, when the Illini edged the Wildcats 3-1. Freshman defender Kendra Pasquale said being at home will hopefully give the Illini an advantage during weekend’s games.

“It’s big for us having this Friday and Sunday weekend,” Pasquale said. “We’ve had a week to prepare, so being back home we really get to dig in, work through the process and focus on this game solely. It’s always good being able to protect our home field.”

After a string of less-than-ideal outcomes, the Illini are spending this week reviewing film and sharpening fundamentals during practice. Michigan currently holds a 4-1-1 conference record and a 9-3-1 record overall, while Michigan State is 8-4-1 overall and 1-3-1 in the Big Ten.