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Men’s Soccer | 7/11/2025 11:44:00 AM

2025 Schedule

Saint Francis men’s soccer head coach Mads Kaiser has announced his 2025 schedule. Two games against Power 5 conference teams and nine games at the Stokes SoccerPlex highlight the schedule.

The Red Flash open the third season under Kaiser on the road at Xavier on August 21. It is the second-straight campaign the team will open on the road, and it will be the first meeting against Xavier. It will be the eighth time Saint Francis opens the season against a big conference school, and the first since ending in a scoreless draw against North Carolina State in 2011. The squad has also played its inaugural game of the season against Penn State (1998, 2009), Pittsburgh (1999), West Virginia (2000), and Michigan State (2004, 2008).

“With a young and hungry group, this year’s schedule is designed to challenge us right from the start,” said Kaiser. “From high-level exhibitions to tough road trips and a competitive NEC slate, every game is an opportunity to grow, build chemistry, and raise our standard. We’re excited for the journey ahead and committed to being the most prepared version of ourselves when conference play begins.”
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Saint Francis makes its home debut against St. Bonaventure on August 28. It will be the 25th meeting in the series, but the two teams look to complete a game in Loretto for the first time since 2017. The two teams, slated to open the 2022 campaign at the Stokes SoccerPlex, had the game stopped due to lightning and could not continue. In 2024, the two teams were never able to start the match due to lightning.  

The Red Flash then hits the road for its second match against a Power 5 conference team with its first-ever meeting against Maryland in College Park on September 1. The Loretto team owns two wins against a Big 10 opponent after defeating Penn State in 2013 (1-0) and 2016 (3-1), a Big 12 win against West Virginia (1-0, 2014) and six wins against the Big East (three against West Virginia, two against Pittsburgh and one against Cincinnati).

Saint Francis returns home to clash with old Northeast Conference friend Robert Morris on September 4. It will be the 39th meeting in the series and the fifth since the Colonials joined the Horizon League. 

The Red Flash will then embark on its only two-game road trip at Loyola on September 9 and Duquesne on September 17. Loyola returns to the schedule for the first time since 2016, marking the seventh meeting in the matchup. Meanwhile, Duquesne returns to the slate for the first time since 2021, marking the 21st encounter between the two squads. 

Bucknell wraps up non-conference play in Loretto for the 25th meeting. The Red Flash has won the last four matches to take a 12-11-2 edge in the series.

Saint Francis opens NEC play on the road at Le Moyne on September 28, before a two-game homestand against Mercyhurst (October 2) and LIU (October 5) kicks off the month of October.

The squad will also host New Haven (October 16), FDU (October 26), and CCSU (November 9), while traveling to Chicago State (October 9), Howard (October 19), and Stonehill (October 30) in the final six games of the regular season. New Haven is joining the NEC this season, and the men’s soccer team is the only fall team that will host the new league member for a fall competition. 

Saint Francis looks to make the NEC Tournament for the fourth consecutive season on November 13 and 16. The Top Two seeds host the opening round, and then the highest remaining seed will host the NEC Championship Game. 

“This season is also a chance to honor all those who’ve built and competed for this program at the Division I level, a legacy we’re proud to represent every time we step on the field,” said Kaiser.

The team looks to make its 12th appearance in the NEC Tournament and its first NEC Tournament title. The Red Flash advanced to the NEC Championship Game in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016. 

DAYTON, Ohio — The Ohio Sports Hall Of Fame will formally introduce 10 former Xavier University Musketeers in the 2025 induction class at its first annual banquet, which will be held at the Dayton Convention Center on Saturday, July 26. The list of 10 2025 inductees includes former soccer standouts Nick Hagglund (’14) and Amanda Gruber (’98), football star Dan Abramowicz (’67) as well as basketball stars Brian Grant (’94), Amber Harris (’10), Tyrone Hill (’90), Byron Larkin (’88), Carol Madsen (’94), Ta’Shia Phillips (’11) and Romain Sato (’04). Former XU basketball coach and player Chris Mack (’93), who was a member of the 2024 class, will also be honored since this is the first year for an awards banquet and the Ohio Sports Hall of Fame will be recognizing both the 2024 and 2025 classes. For more information on the Ohio Sports Hall of Fame or the upcoming banquet and Hall of Fame weekend events, visit www.ohshof.com.
 
Dan Abramowicz (’67) was a three-year letterwinner at wide receiver for the Xavier football team and a member of the Legion of Honor. Abramowicz finished with 50 catches for 738 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior, helping Xavier to an 8-2 season. He was named to the All-Catholic All-America Team (The Brooklyn Tablet) at the conclusion of the season. Despite facing double coverage in his senior season, Abramowicz grabbed 34 passes for 585 yards and three touchdowns. The Steubenville native still holds the XU records for passes caught in a season (50 in 1965) and in a career (102), yards gained through passes caught in a career (1,470), as well as touchdown passes caught in a season (10 in 1965) and in a career (13). Upon graduation from Xavier, he was drafted by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and went on to play wide receiver for the Saints and the San Francisco 49ers until his retirement in 1974. He was named a first-team All-Pro with the Saints in 1969, when he led the league in receptions. He caught passes in 105 consecutive games, an NFL record which stood until 1982.
 
Briant Grant (’94), native of Georgetown, Ohio, stamped his name throughout the Xavier record book, ranking as the 11th all-time leading scorer with 1,719 points and fourth on the career rebounding list with 1,080. He also set the all-time mark for offensive efficiency by posting the highest field goal percentages for a season (.654) and a career (.594). Grant is tied for fifth all-time on XU’s blocked shot list with 127 career swats. He helped the Musketeers to three postseason appearances during his Xavier career with two NCAA Tournament appearances (1991 and 1993) and one NIT appearance (1994). Grant collected MCC Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons (1992-93 and 1993-94). Entering his senior year, Grant was named a Street & Smith’s Third Team All-American. In 1994, Grant was selected eighth overall by the Sacramento Kings, the highest-ever selection among all XU players. He joined Tyrone Hill as the only NBA Draft lottery picks in Xavier history. He played 13 NBA seasons, including earning NBA All-Rookie honors in the 1994-95 season.
 
Amanda Gruber (’98) holds the school records for most goals in a season (24 in 1997) and a career (67), most points in a season (59 in 1997) and a career (160). She also stands second on XU’s all-time list for most career assists (26). Gruber became the first men’s or women’s soccer All-American when she earned NSCA Third Team All-American honors as a senior in 1997. The Cincinnati native earned a long list of other honors including 1997 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and was a three-time A-10 First Team selection as well as a three-time A-10 All-Academic Team selection. As a rookie, she earned MCC All-Newcomer Team, MCC Second Team and MCC All-Tournament Team. Gruber helped the Musketeers reach the A-10 Finals in their first season in the league and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. As a senior, she set an A-10 record with 59 goals while leading the Musketeers to the conference semifinals and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. 
 
Nick Hagglund (’14) enjoyed the most decorated career in Xavier soccer history. The Cincinnati native was a two-time conference defensive player of the year and was part of 31 shutouts as the leader of the Musketeer defense through his four years in the program. Hagglund led Xavier to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances with three straight in 2010, 2011 and 2012 while the Musketeers picked up their first-ever NCAA Tournament win in 2012. At the conclusion of his junior year, he earned NSCAA All-America Second Team honors as well as College Soccer News All-America Third Team honors, becoming the first XU player to earn NSCAA honors. In Xavier’s first season in the BIG EAST, Hagglund earned the 2013 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year awards as well as a spot on the All-BIG East First Team and the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team. He was the 10th overall pick by Toronto FC in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and went on to win the 2017 MLS Cup with the squad. He was acquired by FC Cincinnati in 2019 and has been a key veteran for FCC since his acquisition.
 
Amber Harris (’10) was drafted fourth in the 2011 WNBA Draft and is the highest draft pick in program history. The three-time All-Atlantic 10 First Team honoree and the 2009-10 A-10 Player of the Year is the second all-time leading scorer at XU with 2,205 career points. Harris became the first Musketeer to be honored as a State Farm All-American by the WBCA in 2009-10 and repeated in 2010-11. She also earned mention as a Second Team All-American in 2011 and Third Team All-American in 2010 by the Associated Press. Harris is the all-time blocked shot leader with 361 and ranks second all-time with 1,226 rebounds to become only the second Musketeer to surpass the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound mark. She was a member of the All-Tournament Team in all four of her appearances in the Atlantic 10 Championship and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 A-10 Championship. She finished her Xavier career a perfect 12-0 all-time in A-10 Tournament games, leading XU to four championships in five years. Harris, who was forced to sit out the entire 2008-09 season due to injury, was a playing member of four NCAA Tournament appearances, including XU’s second NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2010. Harris was drafted fourth overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2011 and won a pair of championships with the team in 2011 and 2013.
 
Tyrone Hill (’90) was the first XU alum to ever be selected as an NBA Draft “lottery pick” and the first alum to ever earn NBA All-Star honors. Hill was a four-year starter, helping Xavier average 23.5 wins during his four-year career. Xavier compiled a 94-34 (.734) record including three MCC Tournament Championships, four NCAA Tournament berths, two MCC Regular Season Championships and XU’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Sweet 16. He was a freshman starter on the 1987 team that captured Xavier’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. As a sophomore he led the team to 26 wins, a then-school record, and another trip to the NCAA Tournament. As a junior, Hill was the 1989 MCC Tournament MVP and led the Musketeers to a third straight NCAA Tournament. The Cincinnati native led XU to a school record 28 victories as a senior and a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament where the Musketeers defeated Kansas State and Georgetown to reach the school’s first-ever NCAA Sweet 16. Hill is Xavier’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,380 and fifth on the career scoring chart with 2,003 points. Hill, who was drafted in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors, played 14 NBA seasons. 
 
Byron Larkin (’88), long-time Xavier radio analyst, is the all-time leading scorer in Xavier basketball history. The Cincinnati native had an immediate impact on Xavier basketball, starting every single game after starring in the first seven games of his freshman season. Larkin led XU to three MCC Tournament Championships, being named MVP of each one. He also led the Musketeers to two MCC Regular Season Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including XU’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in 1987 behind a 29-point effort from Larkin. During his four years, Xavier went 86-35 (71.1 %), including two of the top 10 seasons for wins in Xavier history in 1985-86 (25-5) and 1987-88 (26-4). Larkin accumulated multiple honors throughout his Xavier career including two MCC Player of the Year Awards, 1988 AP Third Team All-America honors, 1988 UPI and Scripps Howard Second Team All-America selections and claimed a spot on the 1987 U.S. Pan Am Team. He finished his Xavier career with 2,696 points and is still among the top 30 on the NCAA Division I all-time scoring chart. 
 
Chris Mack (’93), the all-time winningest coach for Xavier basketball, also played for the Musketeers and is the current head coach at the College of Charleston. The Cincinnati native, a two-time team captain as a player, won an MCC Regular Season Championship and reached the second round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament. Mack was named the 17th head coach of Xavier basketball on April 15, 2009, after five seasons as an assistant on Sean Miller’s staff. In nine seasons as the head coach, Mack compiled a 215-97 record (.689) with eight NCAA Tournament appearances, four Sweet 16 appearances and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2017. His teams won or shared three conference regular season championships while compiling a 105-49 league record over nine seasons in the BIG EAST and Atlantic 10. Mack became Xavier’s first-ever national coach of the year after being named the 2015-16 Henry Iba Award winner as the USBWA National Coach of the Year as well as the CBS Sports and Basketball Times National Coach of the Year. In his final season with the Musketeers, Mack was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year and led Xavier to its highest national poll ranking at No. 3 in the final 2018 AP Poll and the first NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed in school history. 
 
Carol Madsen (’94) was a two-time MCC Player of the Year and the 1993 MCC Tournament MVP. Madsen held multiple school records at the time of her graduation including most points in a game (46 vs. La Salle, 1994), most assists in a season (212, 1993-94) and most career assists (518). Her 46-point single game record still stands to this day. She is tied for the individual record of single-game 3-pointers with nine against Indiana State in 1992 and previously held the record for most three-pointers in a single season and career. Madsen ranks seventh on XU’s all-time scoring chart with 1,702 career points. The Cincinnati native was a three-time MCC First Team selection and was selected the 1993 MCC Tournament MVP after scoring a record 70 points in three games, leading Xavier to an MCC Championship and its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Ta’Shia Phillips (’11) is XU’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,552 career boards. She was a two-time Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and the 2008-09 A-10 Player of the Year. Phillips was selected as a 2010 and 2011 State Farm Honorable Mention All-American by the WBCA. She finished her senior year second in the country in rebounding (12.4 rpg) and third in field goal percentage (.605). The 6-foot-6 center notched 77 career double-doubles and scored in double-figures 103 out of 131 career games played. Phillips led the league in rebounds per game in all four of her seasons, earning a spot on the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team for three consecutive seasons. She was honored as a three-time Atlantic-10 First Team honoree and an All-District I pick by the WBCA in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Phillips led Xavier to the 2010 Elite Eight run that came up just short of the Final Four in a heartbreaking 55-53 loss to Stanford in the Regional Final. XU made four NCAA Tournaments during Phillips’ career (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011) and averaged 27.0 wins during Phillips’ career. Phillips was selected eighth overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft to become the second highest draft pick in program history.

Romain Sato (’04), a native of the Central African Republic, played high school basketball in Dayton before coming to Xavier. Sato helped Xavier reach the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, including the NCAA Second Round twice and XU’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2004. Xavier won two A-10 Regular Season Championships and two A-10 Conference Tournament Championships during his career. Sato was named to the five-member All-Regional Team for the 2004 NCAA Tournament Atlanta Regional after scoring 18.3 ppg and grabbing 7.3 rpg. He was also named a 2003-04 AP Honorable Mention All-American and 2003-04 NABC All-District 10 First Team. His long list of honors also included First Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference twice and A-10 Conference All-Defensive Team three times. Sato is fourth on Xavier’s all-time scoring list with 2,005 points and eighth on the all-time rebounding list with 892 rebounds. He holds the school record for career three-point field goals made (307) including the top two single game displays in XU history. Following his Xavier career, Sato was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft. He enjoyed a tremendously successful career in pro basketball in Europe, earning his induction into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2024. 
 
 

Ellie Cardillo of the women’s soccer team spent the Spring 2025 semester in Spain and writes about her time from the Iberian Peninsula. Here is her experience…

By Ellie Cardillo ’26

Ever since I was a kid, I KNEW I wanted to study abroad. Being a double major in Hispanic Studies and Sociology, I thought spending a semester in a Spanish speaking country would allow me to both immerse myself in the language and culture, while also gaining sociological insights on a completely different place and group of people. And it was one the most life-changing experiences I have ever had. 
 
Even though I always knew I wanted to go abroad, it was not until WAC Women’s Soccer took on Barcelona in the spring of 2024, that I fell in love with Spain and everything it had to offer. During my time abroad, I spent four months in Segovia, Spain, a town about an hour outside of Madrid. I also traveled to the Czech Republic, France, England, Scotland, Portugal and Morocco. 
 
Throughout my time in Segovia, I was fortunate enough to play with a Spanish futbol sala (futsal) team. It was an indoor team, making it a much faster pace and on top of that it was a great opportunity for me to practice my Spanish. The team welcomed me with open arms, and it was a heartwarming experience to be able to connect with other girls through our shared love of soccer. 
 
The two highlights that come to mind when I think about my time abroad are when my parents and many of my friend’s parents all met up in Sitges, which is about an hour from Barcelona. We rented a big house and were all able to be reunited with our parents! It was an amazing experience and being able to relax and swim in the Mediterranean Sea was the perfect end of semester treat. Secondly, on my way back to the States, I spent one night in Morocco. This was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. I stayed In Rabat with my friend Tilelli’s Uncle. I was able to meet Til’s Mahelou (Grandma) who only spoke Arabic, and although we could not actually communicate with words, we got along so well through sharing food, gestures, and smiles. It was an honor to be welcomed into their culture. (Shoutout Til) 
 
I am eternally in debt and forever grateful to my parents and coaches who pushed me to go abroad and make my dream a livable reality. 
 
I also want to acknowledge that studying abroad, especially for four months in another country, is a deeply privileged opportunity. I was fortunate to travel, explore, and return home safely—an experience not accessible to many people.  I carry that awareness with me, and it’s a reminder of the importance of advocating for broader access to global experiences and education.
 
I am ecstatic about returning to Chestertown in the Fall! To any student that is hesitant about going abroad, GO!  Experience is knowledge and knowledge is power. Maryland isn’t going anywhere, but the opportunity to move across the world might be. 

GALLERY

RIVERDALE, NY – With the start of the 2025 campaign just a few weeks away, Manhattan Jaspers’ Director of Athletics Irma Garcia has announced Tom Giovatto as the sixth Men’s Soccer Head Coach in program history.

Giovatto is set to succeed Jorden Scott, who was recently promoted to Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs and Program Development on June 19.

“I am thrilled to officially welcome Coach Tom (Giovatto) to our Jasper family!” Exclaimed Garcia.

“His track record of success both on the field and in the development of student-athletes is truly outstanding. Tom brings a coaching philosophy that aligns perfectly with our vision of holistic success, encompassing excellence in the classroom, service in the community, and competition at the highest level on the soccer field. I’m confident he will build on the strong foundation laid by Coach Jorden (Scott) and take our Jasper soccer program to new heights.”

While serving as the head coach of the Long Island University Women’s Soccer program in 2024, he oversaw three players being named as Northeast Conference (NEC) All-Conference honorees. The year prior, Giovatto served as the Assistant Coach for Fordham University’s Men’s Soccer program.

“Tommy is an accomplished, successful, and championship coach, and I could not be handing the program off to a better man,” described Jorden Scott.

“After 15 years of building the program from the ground up, it was critical that we found someone who understands what it takes at the mid-major level to push beyond expectations, is willing to absorb themselves in our Jaspers Soccer community, and we are fortunate to have found that coach.  I look forward to supporting Tommy in his transition, and I am excited for the student-athletes to gain from his experience and knowledge.”

The four-time NEC Coach of the Year was instrumental in leading the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers Men’s Soccer program for 16 seasons. While at the helm, Giovatto led his teams to capture five NEC Tournament titles and make as many NCAA Tournament appearances in eight years (2013-2021). His teams also won four conference regular-season titles, highlighted by back-to-back undefeated NEC seasons (2016 and 2017). In the Spring of 2021, St. Francis Brooklyn claimed its first NCAA tournament victory in program history against Milwaukee in double overtime before falling to eventual national runner-up Indiana.

“I’d like to take a moment to thank Director of Athletics Irma Garcia and Deputy Director of Athletic Anthony Kurtin for the opportunity to lead Manhattan University’s Men’s Soccer program.” Said Giovatto. “Additionally, I want to thank Jorden Scott for his support and belief in me to take the program forward as he moves to administration.”

“From my years competing in New York City, I know the potential of Manhattan Men’s Soccer. This a program with a history talented players, an incredibly supportive alumni group, and a high competitive ceiling. Our location in the best city in the world, plus exciting investments in facilities and new partnerships with Capelli, gives us a chance to bring championships here through hard work and identifying the right talent to win in the MAAC, our region, and beyond over the coming years.”

Additionally, Giovatto is a three-time United Soccer Coaches’ Northeast Region Coach of the Year, a two-time Big Apple Soccer Coach of the Year, and ECAC Coach of the Year.

While in Brooklyn Heights, Giovatto accumulated a 144-96-44 win, loss, and draw record, finishing second on the Terriers’ Men’s Soccer all-time wins list.

Over his nearly two decades in the NEC between St. Francis Brooklyn and LIU, Giovatto mentored two NEC Players of the Year, four NEC Defensive Players of the Year, three NEC Rookies of the Year, an NEC Goalkeeper of the Year, and 36 First Team All-NEC selections.

Giovatto began his collegiate career as an assistant coach at fellow MAAC institution Saint Peter’s University in 2001. Two seasons later, he helped the Peacocks win nearly 20 matches and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before moving to Long Island and Stony Brook University. He then began his time in Brooklyn Heights as an assistant coach, taking the reins before the 2007 campaign.

He played his collegiate soccer at nearby Iona University for three seasons. After graduating in 1997 with a degree in mass communications, Giovatto played for Major League Soccer side New York/New Jersey MetroStars during the preseason. He also played for the Brooklyn Knights of the USL PDL and the Baltimore Blast of the NPSL.

Additionally, Giovatto coaches for MLS Next side Downtown United Soccer Club Girls Academy 2007.

“I am excited to start with the team in August and help all of our student-athletes have a meaningful experience while developing as young men.”

CHAMPAIGN — When she was the associate head coach at Michigan, Katie Hultin consistently got calls from athletic directors looking for a new head coach. Such is the life of an assistant coach at a Big Ten and national contender.

But Hultin passed up opportunities that didn’t feel right because winning at Michigan — which made the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen in 2019 and Elite Eight in 2021 — was just too satisfying. To leave a winning program and become a first-time head coach, Hultin wanted to be sure that it’d be for a place where she could succeed, so she didn’t rush to take that leap up the ladder.

“I love winning way too much to just go to any other school, just to be a head coach. I want to go somewhere that we can win,” Hultin said on the Illini Inquirer Podcast. “…It definitely wasn’t intentional to take my time, but I just loved learning through the whole process, and I enjoyed every step along the way, and I just knew that I wanted to go somewhere where winning was a standard. So I took my time to find the right place.”

Hultin didn’t expect her first head coaching job to be at the Division-II level, but Grand Valley State wasn’t just any D-II program. The Lakers had won seven national titles from 2009-2021, and the program had been an incubator for Big Ten coaches with Iowa’s Dave Dilanni and Michigan State’s Jeff Hosler previously coaching GVSU.

Hultin again started getting a lot of calls from athletic directors after leading the Lakers to a 45-7-19 overall record and two NCAA Tournament regional titles. But again, Hultin wanted to make sure the next job was the right one.

Illinois, of course, intrigued her when it opened up. Hultin had coached in the Big Ten, and she had coached at Illinois, serving as a goalkeepers coach under Janet Rayfield, who served 23 years as the Illini head coach before retiring after the 2024 season. Hultin knew the lay of the land at Illinois and knew the university had great academic prowess. And after coaching at Michigan, she considered the Big Ten the best soccer conference in the country, especially with the four West Coast additions.

But after Illinois had missed the NCAA Tournament in Rayfield’s final 10 full seasons, Hultin wanted to make sure soccer mattered to Illinois. She wanted to know that Illinois would make the needed “investment” in soccer. After her discussions with Illini athletics director Josh Whitman, it was clear to her that Whitman wanted to win at all sports, not just football and basketball.

“I think so many schools out there are solely investing in their revenue-generating sports, and he said to me he wants to invest in women’s soccer to be a national championship-caliber team, which means that takes an investment,” Hultin said. “So that went a long way for me to have an athletic department that is willing to invest in their Olympic sports like that. That was a big piece of it.

“I think one of the main draws for me was Josh. Just everything that he has done for athletics over the last eight years or so, and his forward thinking and the direction he’s wanting Illinois athletics to go in, and how we’re already headed in that direction just felt really promising. I wanted to be part of it.”

Hultin has great respect for Rayfield, who steered this program for 23 of its 28 years of existence, led Illinois to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in her first 12 seasons, developed seven All-Americans and has been involved with the U.S. national women’s team. Hultin said she had a lot appreciation for Rayfield’s analytical and tech-savvy approach during her two seasons as an Illini assistant.

But Hultin also was brought in to re-energize an Illini program that had stalled out during Rayfield’s last decade. The Illini haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2013 and have finished over-.500 in the Big Ten just twice in the last 11 seasons. Hultin, a 42-year-old from Denver (Colo.) who played goalkeeper at Washington State and played professionally for eight years, plans to bring some fire to the Illini. Though Hultin said she’s not taking over a complete rebuild, thanks to Rayfield.

“Janet left this place in such a great spot,” Hultin said. “The culture that she worked for day in and day out here for 23 years. She did a phenomenal job, so we have a really great culture. We’re going to continue to evolve that over time. I think the biggest thing that we need going forward is just that grittiness and ultra-competitive athletes. We don’t need just five of ’em. We need 28 of them out on the field. We want to be able to play 90 minutes of soccer every game with a relentless attitude. So I think for us, it’s recruiting that type of talent, recruiting some of the best talent in the country, and then making sure that every day we’re training with that grittiness and ultra competitive attitude so that we’re ready for anything and everything that’s thrown at us when a game comes.”

Hultin knows what it takes in the Big Ten. She coached at Illinois and Michigan, as well as Oregon, which wasn’t in the Big Ten in 2016-18 when she was with the Ducks but is now. A key will be to continue to lift the talent level at Illinois. Nowadays, you can do that quickly through the transfer portal, and Hultin added several transfers to immediately boost the program.

Grand Valley State goalkeeper Cailynn Junk followed Hultin to Illinois after earning GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Year last season after recording 79 saves in 22 matches and allowing just 0.41 goals per game. Georgia forward Cayla Jackson is “crafty, she’s athletic, has great vision,” Hultin said. The Illini also added midfielder Myra Schneider from Kentucky, defender Lauren Smith from Texas Tech and forward Sutton Webb from Mississippi State. The roster also will have a huge influx of double-digit freshmen, which Hultin said she thinks is a positive for the program. Hultin also said the returners from Rayfield’s last team, which includes leading goal scorer (11 goals) and All-Big Ten forward Sarah Foley, have been “awesome” and “eager.”

No one expects Hultin to be a miracle worker in Year One. But she does think the 2025 season — Illinois begins with a home exhibition against Marquette on Aug. 7 — can be a tone-setter for her tenure.

“I think for us, it’s establishing ourselves as a threat in the Big Ten, not just a team that teams are going to overlook,” Hultin said. “I don’t think that teams have overlooked Illinois in the past, but they’ve always sort of been on the fence. We want to be a team that teams are nervous to play, and so I think we can do that this year. I think we can make a name for ourselves in terms of just our tactics alone, just this relentless mentality. There’s those teams out there that you just never know what you’re going to get, but we’re going to come out and be absolutely relentless and hard to play against.

“So I think Year One for us is we’re going to learn, we’re going to grow. We’re probably going to have some really great days and some really hard days, but I think at the end of the day and at the end of the season, our hope is that everyone knows that Illinois was not easy to play against and that we can be a real threat going forward.”

Hultin said she plays a “possession-oriented” style that will include a lot of movement and “collective and disciplined pressure.” Of course, she wants fans to show up to Demirjian Park, a state-of-the-art facility that was completed in 2021 and which Hultin thinks is the best facility in the Big Ten and a big draw for recruits. And she thinks the potential for Illini soccer is high due to that facility, the community support and the investment Whitman is making in the program.

What does she think Illini soccer can become?

“I think it can be huge, especially with our international population at the university,” Hultin said. “I think we can really pull those students in. Not only that, but the international population within the community. Champaign-Urbana is very diverse, so I think we can really pull that in. The kids in the community are really who we want at every game. Our camps were really big this summer, and so we’re hoping to get a good draw from them as well. So we’ll push that on the marketing front with the kids and also just the community itself. But I think we can make waves.”

Hultin admits she’ll have some nerves before her first game as a Big Ten head coach. But she won’t have impostor syndrome. She knows she belongs here, that she didn’t get here by mistake. She put in the work and got the results.

Truth is, she could’ve possibly pushed to get here early. But she was patient and waited for the right jobs. And she thinks the potential of Illinois ultimately was worth the wait.

“I’ve just taken my time through the process and trusted the process, the same thing we tell our athletes all the time is to trust the process and grow from every moment,” Hultin said. “I think I’ve done that and ended up in a perfect place for myself and for my family. So hopefully we can go win and stay here forever.”