'Cats Host Redbirds to Close Homestand'Cats Host Redbirds to Close Homestand

'Cats Host Redbirds to Close Homestand

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern women’s soccer looks to build on its first win of the 2026 season when it hosts Illinois State on Thursday night at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on B1G+. 

Last time out, Northwestern picked up a 1-0 victory over Denver behind a 35th-minute goal from junior forward Alex Fallon, assisted by first-year midfielder Elle Phillips and junior forward Kennedy Roesch. The goal marked Fallon's first goal since returning from injury and Phillips' first career assist. The Northwestern backline turned in a resolute performance against DU, limiting the Pioneers to just four shots and one shot on goal, both season lows.

'Cats Pick up First Win of 2026 over Denver, 1-0

Alex Fallon's first tally of the season gave Northwestern its first win of the 2026 season in a 1-0 victory over Denver on Sunday, August 23.

#0Goalkeeper

Nyamma Nelson

Sophomore goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson posted her first shutout of 2026 in Sunday’s victory. Nelson has not allowed a goal from the run of play in her two appearances this season. Northwestern recorded 10 shutouts over 21 games in 2025, its most clean sheets in a single season since 2022 (10). The West Linn, Ore., native's 10 shutouts in 2025 broke the NU first-year record and ranked second in the Big Ten and 14th nationally. Nelson’s 11 career clean sheets rank sixth-most in school history.

Since 2022, Northwestern’s 22 regular-season non-conference wins rank second-most among Big Ten teams, trailing only UCLA (24).

Northwestern returns 76.6% of its games started, 75.2% of its minutes played, 76.9% of its goals scored, 82.8% of its assists and 79.0% of its points from its 2025 team.

The Wildcats lead the all-time series over Illinois State 9-3, including a 4-1 mark in Evanston. Northwestern has won five in a row over the Redbirds, with the previous four meetings taking place in Normal. NU has outscored ISU 11-1 over that span. The last time the two sides met in Evanston in 2016, the 'Cats came away with a 1-0 victory.

Illinois State (2-0-1) enters Thursday’s showdown unbeaten through three games for the first time since 2014, defeating Northern Illinois (2-1) and Lindenwood (1-0), before drawing UT Martin (1-1). Sophomore forward Rylann Law leads the Redbirds with a pair of goals on the season. Graduate student goalkeeper Madi Valenti is allowing 0.67 goals per game to go with an .833 save percentage. 

The Wildcats will hit the road to take on Butler on Sunday, Aug. 30 in Indianapolis. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT on ESPN+.