http://news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/soccer Latest Illini SportsFacts stories for the News-Gazette en-us Copyright 2008, The News-Gazette, Inc. http://www.news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/rss Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PST BORLANGE, Sweden – Ella Masar, a former forward on the Illinois soccer team, scored a pair of goals to lead the U.S. Under-23 national team to a 3-0 win against Germany in the championship match of the Nordic Cup Championship. The Urbana native scored her first goal in the 34th minute from 12 yards out and added another in the 63rd minute. She also scored the winner against Norway in the semifinals. http://news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/soccer/2008/07/23/ex-illini_masar_us_claim_nordic_soccer_crown/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:00:00 CST   Perdita Felicien waited four years for another shot at an Olympic medal. On Tuesday, the former University of Illinois track and field standout reluctantly conceded her wait won't end next month in Beijing.   http://news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/soccer/2008/07/16/felicien_to_miss_olympics_because_of_foot_injury/ Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – Former Illinois soccer player Ella Masar was named to the U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team that will compete in the Nordic Cup beginning Tuesday in Falun, Sweden. The Urbana native is one of 18 players on the U.S. roster and one of six returnees who helped the United States to a 4-0 victory against Germany in last year's title match. The Nordic Cup is an eight-team tournament, with the United States joining Switzerland, England and Norway in Group B for round-robin group play. Placement matches between teams in Groups A and B will follow. The U.S. has won nine of the last 11 Nordic Cups. http://news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/soccer/2008/07/11/masar_earns_spot_on_elite_team/ Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:00:00 CST CHAMPAIGN – The Illinois women's soccer team will face eight opponents in 2008 that qualified for last year's NCAA tournament and five that finished 2007 nationally ranked. The Illini announced their schedule Friday. http://news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/soccer/2008/06/28/eight_ncaa_tourney_qualifiers_on_ui_soccer_schedule/ Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:00:00 CST