The University of Illinois Springfield women's soccer team opens their 2023 season with a pair of away matches in Ohio. The Prairie Stars face Tiffin at 3:00 p.m. CT (4:00 p.m. ET) on Thursday, followed by a 1:00 p.m. CT (2:00 p.m. ET) contest against Findlay.

UIS
The Prairie Stars Women's Soccer team entered the year picked to finish 5th in the GLVC. The team finished the 2022 season with a 10-7-3 record which was good enough for the most wins in school history during the NCAA era. The Prairie Stars also advanced to the GLVC Tournament Championship for the first time ever before ultimately falling to Maryville 2-1.

UIS returns two GLVC All-Conference selections in Sierra Cenek and Louise Anderson. Cenek also earned United Soccer Coaches DII Second Team All-Midwest Region honors. The 2023 team is filled with additional experienced returners such as Abby Dellamorte, Maggie Joos, Madison Grandys, Allison Mirimanian, and Megan Little.

About Tiffin
Tiffin enters the 2023 tabbed to finish 8th in the G-MAC Preseason Poll. The Dragons finished the 2022 season with an 8-8-2 record which wasn't enough for a G-MAC Tournament berth. Last season's eight victories tied the most for the Dragons in the last 10 years.

Returning for the Dragons are Senior Kaelynn Harkness, Sophomore Amanda Feury, and Sophomore Autumn Schweitzer. These three had eight, seven, and seven points respectively during the 2022 season. Tiffin graduated the G-MAC Offensive Player of the Year who scored 19 goals, so a new attack will be needed for the Dragons.

UIS vs. Tiffin History
This will be the fourth time that these two schools have met, with this being the third consecutive season in a row that the two will meet. UIS holds a 1-0-2 record all-time. The 2022 contest finished in a 2-2 draw in Springfield. The 2021 contest w results in the only win of the series, with UIS emerging victorious 2-1 in Romeoville.

About Findlay
Findlay enters the 2023 picked to finish 3rd in the G-MAC Preseason Poll. The Oilers finished the 2022 season with a 10-6-3 record. Their season ended in the G-MAC Tournament Semifinal where they fell to Cedarville.
   
The Oilers return their top three scorers from the 2022 season: Ellie Tischler (8 G, 1 A) Payton Miller (7 G, 5 A), and Elizabeth Talabac (6 G). Tischler earned First Team All-Region by the D2CCA and was named First Team all-GMAC.

UIS vs. Findlay History
This will be the fourth time that these two schools meet, with this being the second consecutive season in a row they meet in Findlay. UIS holds a 2-1 record all-time. The 2022 contest finished with the Oilers squeaking out a 1-0 in Findlay with a goal scored in the 83rd minute.

Up Next
UIS returns home next weekend for their first matches of the season at Kiwanis Stadium. The Prairie Stars play Michigan Tech on September 8 and Northern Michigan on September 10.