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Illinois soccer adds seven recruits to 2026 signing class under Katie Hultin
Coach Katie Hultin continues to reshape Illinois soccer with a strong 2026 recruiting class featuring seven promising players.
CHAMPAIGN - Illinois soccer’s future got a major boost this week as head coach Katie Hultin unveiled a seven-player signing class that stretches from coast to coast — and across the border. The 2026 recruiting class features a diverse group of student-athletes who bring international experience, national recognition, and a shared belief in what Hultin’s program is building in Champaign. “This group represents everything we value — character, talent, and commitment,” Hultin said in announcing the class. “Each of them brings something unique that will help us continue to compete at a high level in the Big Ten.”
Leading the new class is Abby Anderson, a forward from Surrey, British Columbia. A standout for Unity FC and Surrey United SC, Anderson was named the 2023 Surrey United Female Player of the Year and earned the Dana Cup U17 Best Player Award. She also played for Canada’s U17 National Team pool. “I love the environment and the tight-knit group of kind players and coaches,” Anderson said. “I could definitely see myself growing as a player and as an individual at Illinois.”
From Indiana, Cadence Conrad joins the Illini midfield after a strong run with Indy Premier SC and William Henry Harrison High School. Known for her high work rate and leadership, Conrad said she was drawn to Illinois’ “amazing atmosphere” and “family environment.”
Presli Houk, a dynamic attacking player from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, arrives with a strong scoring pedigree. The Sporting Blue Valley standout has tallied double-digit goals in each of the last three seasons and helped her club capture the 2024 North American Cup title. She’s a two-time All-State selection and a 2026 Top-20 Kansas City soccer prospect.
In the forward group, Avia Hughes from League City, Texas, adds international experience to the mix. A former participant in four U.S. National Team camps and a 2025 Ghana U21 National Team invitee, Hughes brings both flair and discipline to the attack. “Illinois feels like the perfect place for me to continue developing my skills and preparing for the professional level,” she said.
They’re winners, competitors, and great representatives of what it means to be a Fighting Illini.
Illinois also landed Sophia McMillan, a multi-sport talent from Inverness, Illinois, who led Sockers FC to a 2023 U19 Girls Academy national championship. A standout basketball player at Fremd High School, McMillan said she wanted to be part of “something special” being built in Champaign. Goalkeeper Ashley Smith, from Davie, Florida, brings versatility as a two-sport athlete who’s earned All-Broward honors in flag football. She said she was drawn to Illinois’ “strong academic programs” and the team’s focus on developing both the athlete and the person. Rounding out the class is Noreen Tijhof, a forward and midfielder from Montréal who plays for Académie du CF Montréal. Known for her creativity and balance, Tijhof said she chose Illinois for its blend of “top-tier academics and exceptional athletics.” With talent from five U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, Hultin’s latest class underscores the growing reach of the Illinois program — and its rising reputation in the Big Ten. “These players are going to help us take another step forward,” Hultin said. “They’re winners, competitors, and great representatives of what it means to be a Fighting Illini.”
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