Illinois men’s club soccer will compete in the 2024 NIRSA National Soccer Championships beginning Nov. 21 after receiving an at-large bid.
The Illini won both games in the group play stage of the Region 3 tournament but ultimately fell to the Michigan Wolverines in the knockout round 1-0. This left them ranked No. 5 in the region and gave them a chance for an at-large bid for nationals.
To gear up for the national tournament this week, here are a few things to know about the Illini this season.
Life as a club sports athlete
Juggling the schedule of a club sports athlete is not easy. Balancing practices and games with the academic rigor of college is crucial to success in both school and soccer.
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Senior captain Julian Ochoa said figuring out an organized schedule right away and managing time wisely is important when balancing academics with practice and travel.
“You have to know my Saturday is gone and my Sundays,” Ochoa said. “You decided to be here. You’ve gotta make that sacrifice for your team and find that balance.”
Club schedule
The soccer schedule has 10 conference games, determining whether or not teams advance to the regional tournament. The Illini are in the Western division of the Midwest Alliance Soccer Conference.
Illinois began its season on Sept. 27 with a 7-1 home victory over Illinois State University.
This was a later start to the conference season than usual for the Illini. Multiple Chicago schools were added to the division and started their school year later, resulting in the delay. Although this is a change, Illinois has been practicing since the end of August.
A longer preseason gave the team an advantage they hadn’t had in the past. It allowed new players to merge with the returning players.
“In the past, there was a hierarchy where the upperclassmen’s words had greater meaning,” said senior Trygve Hansen. “Whereas now, the lowerclassmen feel they can voice their opinion.”
The path to nationals
With a successful conference record of 8-0-2, Illinois has used its collective resilience and team chemistry to its advantage this season.
Ochoa referenced an Illinois defender who was ejected in an early game against DePaul. Because of that, the Illini were forced to play down a man for the rest of the game. Even without a complete team, the Illini battled and won the match 2-1.
“I think that’s been a consistent theme,” Ochoa said. “Games get tough, and we stick together.”
Another key game for Illinois was an away match against Iowa on Oct. 12. Hansen said the team traveled with only 14 players and still won the matchup 7-0.
“Something that I look forward to about nationals is we have a full squad,” Hansen said. “It’s our first time where we have our full team moving forward, but I’m proud of how the team has fought without a full squad.”
Although increased conditioning during practices has helped Illinois prepare for nationals, both seniors believe an improved team mindset is necessary for a successful tournament run.
The Illini’s 1-0 loss to the Wolverines in the regional tournament proved this point. Hansen noted that it helped the team realize they needed to make the most out of every game.
It all ends here
The national tournament will be hosted in Round Rock, Texas, for the third straight year. Illinois will face Delaware and Cal Poly in group play.
Ochoa said he is excited about the challenge of playing these two teams first.
“Both of them won their region,” Ochoa said. “It’s going to be exciting getting put to the test with champions.”
Hansen said the difficulty of Illinois’ region has contributed to the team’s confidence going into these group play matchups.
“I think we’re the last team to get in, so I feel like we have a chip on our shoulder,” Hansen said. “(Delaware and Cal Poly) haven’t played a team like us.”
Illinois will face off against Delaware at 9:45 a.m. Thursday to begin the 2024 NIRSA National Soccer Championships.
