Urbana native and former Illini soccer All-American Ella Masar made her playing debut with the U.S. Women's Senior National Team late last month in Augsburg, Germany. News-Gazette staff writer Jeff Huth reached the 23-year-old forward, a member of the Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer league, via e-mail for this Q&A:

Q: What was it like to get into a game for the first time with the Senior National Team?

Staff writer Jeff Huth's weekly review and preview of all things Illini:

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Angela Bizzarri finished a career-high second at the Big Ten cross-country meet Sunday, leading a pack of four All-Big Ten runners and helping the Illini women to a runner-up finish.

Bizzarri, who became Illinois' first four-time All-Big Ten first-teamer, ran the 6-kilometer course in 20 minutes, 10 seconds.

AUGSBURG, Germany — Abby Wambach’s goal led the United States to a 1-0 victory against world champion Germany on Thursday in a women’s soccer friendly.
Wambach scored for the Olympic gold medalists in the 34th minute after capitalizing on a defensive mistake by the Germans.

WINDERMERE, Fla. – The Illinois men's golf team opened the loaded Isleworth Collegiate Invitational in 10th place Sunday after an opening-round 306 (18 over par).

Luke Guthrie was tied for 14th, 5 strokes behind the leaders after shooting a 1-over 73.

CHAMPAIGN — The Illinois soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision to Ohio State on Thursday at the Illinois Soccer Stadium.
The first-place Buckeyes (12-2-2, 5-1-1 Big Ten), who got two goals from Lauren Steuer and another from Tiffany Cameron, outshot the Illini 17-9.

CHAMPAIGN – The Illinois soccer team failed to find the back of the net Sunday in a 1-0 soccer loss to Wisconsin.

The Badgers, who had lost seven straight against Illinois (5-5-3) dating back to 2002, got the winner from Laurie Nosbusch in the 60th minute.

Illini, Hoosiers play to draw in soccer