News you can't leave work without:

Former Illini soccer star Ella Masar is joining the U.S. Women's National Team for a training camp in December.

Illinois freshman soccer player Shayla Mutz was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team Wednesday.
Mutz played in all 19 matches for the Illini, starting seven times. She finished fifth on the team with six points (two goals, two assists) and is the first Illini to be named to the All-Freshman team since 2007, when Laura Knutson, Danielle Kot and Cory Steigerwald were honored.

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.