Last year, the Illinois soccer team continued to prove itself as a perennial Big Ten contender. The team finished the 2012 season with a record of 10-9-4, appeared in the Big Ten championship game and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re excited to test this team,” 12th-year head coach Janet Rayfield said. “It’s a good team that we have high expectations for.”

With Illinois ranking third in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches’ Poll, players like standout senior Vanessa DiBernardo won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year. DiBernardo, a 2012 NSCAA Third Team All-American midfielder, led the team with eight goals and was second in assists with five. Senior forward Megan Pawloski tallied a team-high six assists. Sophomore forward Nicole Breece was a pleasant surprise with four goals and three assists. Senior defender Kassidy Brown, DiBernardo and Breece were also named Big Ten Players to Watch.

Goalkeeper Steph Panozzo’s 2,164 minutes in goal carried the team last year as she saved nearly three quarters of shots against her. With Panozzo graduating last spring, Rayfield has yet to name a starting goalkeeper. There has been a solid competition brewing for the position, though. With three keepers on the roster, Rayfield said that junior Lizzie Sanscrainte and freshman Claire Wheatley have been the most consistent and are the frontrunners.

“I think it may be a couple games into the season before we know (the starter) for sure,” Rayfield said. “I don’t think it’ll be keeper by committee but … it could be a possibility that we split time these first couple games.”

While you were out

During the offseason, the team added seven players including Wheatley and defender Casey Conine, who enrolled early. Rayfield also secured her job until at least 2017 with a new deal signed in July.

“What it meant to me was that (athletic director) Mike (Thomas) and this administration and myself are making a consensual commitment to this program,” Rayfield said. “To build a great program takes consistency.”

When the squad returned to practice earlier this month, they were at full strength, unlike the previous offseason when both Rayfield and DiBernardo were on international duty. DiBernardo did help the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team win the Four Nations Tournament over the spring.

“It’s nice to be here with the team in the beginning of preseason,” DiBernardo said. “It’s a lot different when you have to go (play abroad) and come back.”

During that time, Illinois went 2-1-1 in its spring season exhibition games. Illinois also lost 3-0 against eighth-ranked Virginia in a preseason friendly on Aug. 16.

What to watch for

Illinois will be playing a competitive 2013 schedule, which includes four opponents that finished in the NCAA Top 25. Just its Big Ten schedule alone will pose a challenge, with Penn State and Michigan ranking first and second in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches’ Poll. It will also be a tough first stretch with four games in 10 days to start the season.

“It’s going to test our endurance, our fitness and everything,” Breece said. “It’ll get us ready for the season because that’s how the season’s going to go.” 

Rayfield doesn’t like to pay too much attention to polls but would rather focus on one game at a time with definite long-term goals.

“Certainly I think this team is motivated,” she said. “This team is motivated to be in a good position when they host this Big Ten Tournament. This team is motivated to get themselves in the NCAA Tournament and what they have to understand, especially the young players, is that Friday is going to be as important as Nov. 1.”

Friday, Aug. 23, is the season opener at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish were ranked third in the NCAA by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Illinois was ranked 17th.

Alex can be reached at [email protected] and @AlexOrtiz2334.