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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini soccer team is set to begin spring exhibition matches this Saturday, Feb. 26, facing off against the Chicago Red Stars from the National Women’s Soccer League in Rockford, Ill. The exhibition match will be closed to the public.
The Red Stars are coming off a 2021 season that saw the team make their first appearance in the NWSL Championship game, claiming runner-up honors in the match. Saturday’s match is a part of their preseason training leading up to the NWSL Challenge Cup beginning in March.
Included on the Red Stars’ roster is former Illini all-American Vanessa DiBernardo, who played in the Orange and Blue from 2010-13. DiBernardo has been with the Red Stars for seven years after being drafted by the team fourth overall in the 2014 NWSL College Draft. Last season, DiBernardo made NWSL history by becoming just the sixth player to play 10,000 minutes with one team.
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