Kansas soccer off to Illinois

? Fresh off its first victory over a top-10 team, Kansas University’s soccer team might be facing another one today.

That depends on the outcome of the new National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, which will be released at noon today — the same time the 21st-ranked Jayhawks (6-0) kick off against Illinois at the Illinois Soccer Stadium.

The Illini (5-0) are ranked 13th nationally, but could crack the top 10 by game time because five teams in the top 12 lost last weekend. One of those was No. 7 Clemson, which KU beat, 3-1, Saturday.

Illinois won both previous matches between the two schools. The most recent meeting was Sept. 2, 2001, when the Illini beat KU, 4-3, in double-overtime in Lawrence.

Both teams boast dangerous offenses, but the game easily could boil down to defense. Kansas — off to its best start in program history — has allowed only one goal all season. Meanwhile, Illinois has been almost as staunch defensively, allowing two goals in five games. One of those came in a 4-1, season-opening victory over Missouri.