Illinois’ (6-5-2, 2-3-1) two-game win streak could come to a quick end this week as the team faces two Big Ten newcomers. Thursday and Sunday, the team plays the No. 19 USC Trojans (9-1-2, 5-0-1) and the UCLA Bruins (10-2-2, 5-0-1).

Up first is the Trojans. These two teams have only met twice before, and Illinois trails the series 0-2-0. Their last face-off was in 2011 when USC beat Illinois 3-1. The year prior, the two teams met in the first round of the NCAA championship. Once again, USC came out on top 3-1. 

USC has had a great start to its Big Ten career. They are on top of the Big Ten rankings, tying No. 9 Iowa and UCLA with 16 points. USC is unbeaten in conference play, and its lone loss came against No. 1 Stanford. 

USC had a three-game win streak disrupted by Minnesota in late September. Interestingly, Minnesota shut out Illinois in September 0-1. Illinois losing to a team that could only manage a tie from USC does not reflect well for the team in its current state. 

This season, Illinois has only faced one other ranked team, the Iowa Hawkeyes. Against the Hawkeyes, the Illini lost the match 2-1. Despite losing, this game may prove to be a crucial experience the Illini can pull from.

It was a low-shooting game for the Illini, and junior midfielder-forward Lia Howard was the lone goalscorer with a late penalty. The Hawkeyes had them bested in shooting and had already netted two goals prior to Howard’s. For this week, Illinois will need to focus on finishing strong against USC if they want a fighting chance. 

Additionally, Illinois will need to secure multiple goals in this game. Only four of USC’s conference matches have been single-score games, and both were shutouts. This season, the Trojans have managed seven shutouts, five in this conference. Furthermore, USC has only allowed two goals in conference play, both from the same game against Minnesota. 

Also, for the Trojans, senior forward Maile Hayes leads scoring. Hayes sits at No. 12 in the Big Ten in goal scoring and scored both of USC’s goals in its most recent win against Oregon. Shutting her down will be critical for an Illinois victory. 

Illinois defenders must watch for USC’s sideline runs and their one-touch passing. Senior midfielder/forward Helena Sampaio has been key to USC’s success. Leading the team with five assists, plus two goals of her own, the Trojans have been able to calmly control the attacking third, lobbing passes in over defenders. 

Sampaio’s quick passing capabilities and awareness make the senior dangerous up top. Keeping an aggressive defender on Sampaio like senior Angie Galo or junior Ellen Persson is Illinois’ best shot at keeping the Trojan from dumping passes like she often does. 

The Illinois game plan should be this: one, shut down sideline runs; two, cut off passes into the midfield up top; and three, score early. Each will be essential for the Illini in this game. 

Although Illinois does not have a great record against higher-ranked teams, they still have the opportunity to upset the newcomers and pull off a win if they stay aggressive both defensively and offensively. Controlling their passes, making strong runs and winning 50-50 balls are skills that many Illini have in their toolboxes. Now, these skills need to be honed in on and fully utilized for this game. 

Playing at home may give Illinois a slight edge, as the team holds a 4-3-1 record at Demirjian Park. However, the Trojans boast an impressive 7-1-1 away record, which could offset the Illini’s home-field advantage. 

Illinois kicks off against USC at home in Demirjian Park on Thursday at 7 p.m. CST. The game will be streamed on B1G+. 

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