Redbird Soccer Prepares For Tough Road Matchup Against Northwestern

Image Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics

EVANSTON, Ill.— Illinois State Women’s Soccer is preparing for its toughest match thus far in its 2026 campaign as it will take on Big Ten opponent Northwestern at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.

The Redbirds have started the season unbeaten through three games with a 2-0-1 record, marking the first time since 2014 the Redbirds have remained unbeaten through their first three games. The 2014 campaign ended up being a record breaking one for the Redbirds, as that year’s team ended up going 16-6-0 on its way to an MVC championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

As for Northwestern, they sit at 1-2-0 following losses to No. 11 ranked Virginia and Syracuse. The Wildcats are coming off a tight 1-0 victory in their most recent game against Denver. The Wildcats have a 1-1 record at home so far this campaign.

The two schools have met twelve previous times. Northwestern leads the all-time series 9-3 and has won five straight games against Illinois State dating back to 2016. The Redbirds have not beaten the Wildcats since 2011, and have never won in Evanston.

ISU forward Rylann Law will look to keep up her impressive start to the year as she has scored two goals in the first three games. Northwestern as a team has only scored two goals in three games, one scored by senior forward Holland Carey and the other from junior midfielder Alex Fallon.

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