CHAMPAIGN -- Most of the Illinois women's soccer team thought Ashley Stellon had simply cleared the ball during a pivotal moment against Boston College.
That would have been good enough for the Illini, who were facing pressure near their goal with 33 minutes remaining in a scoreless game on Aug. 25 at Demirjian Park.
Enter Sarah Foley, who rushed up the left sideline to make three defenders miss before burying a shot in the upper left corner of the net.
"We see that stuff at practice," Illini forward Lia Howard said. "The fact that she makes that run and then beats two defenders with that finish, I want to say that I wasn't surprised, because that's Sarah Foley for you. She's always doing great things."
Foley didn't realize until the following morning that her highlight -- which became the game-winner of Illinois' home opener and the key play of the team's unbeaten nonconference slate -- had led off the prior day's SportsCenter Top 10.
"I saw it the next morning when (former coach Janet Rayfield) texted me congratulations about it," Foley said. "And I was like, 'Oh, what the heck.' I was honestly not expecting that at all."
Foley's strong start to her senior season -- five goals and one assist -- has been a boon for new coach Katie Hultin during the Illini's impressive 7-0 start.
She's already nearly halfway to her 2024 mark, including delivering a hat trick in this past Sunday's 6-0 home win against Valparaiso that wrapped up nonconference play.
"She's kind of like, in my opinion, cool, calm and collected, and then she turns it on when she's on the field," Hultin said. "The field is really what ignites her. She's an awesome teammate, awesome friend to everyone. Couldn't imagine this year without her."
Hultin noticed that Foley was "a little dinged up" leading up to Illinois' match with the Beacons.
But she finished that game -- which happened to be the program's senior day -- with Illinois' first hat trick since Hope Breslin scored three goals in a 2021 match against Illinois State.
Foley is quick to credit her teammates' vision and passing skills in helping her accumulate the plethora of goals.
"They make it pretty easy to let me score," Foley said.
Hultin has picked up on Foley's consistency.
"She's such a soccer-savvy player that is just eager to be coached and loves being coached and is super coachable," Hultin said. "I think just her coachability and her want and willingness to grow as a player is really what's one of her greatest leadership qualities is. Everyone wants to follow her because of it."
Soccer was one of a few sports Foley played during her childhood in Belleville, where she graduated from Belleville West in 2022. But volleyball and basketball didn't have the same appeal as soccer.
"I started playing basketball and volleyball, which made me a better athlete," Foley said. "But I really appreciate the sport of soccer, how creative you can be versus a sport that you have to do plays. I really enjoy getting to be my own individual, unique player in this sport."
Foley's decision to focus on soccer has paid dividends. She was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024 after collecting 24 points, the most for an Illinois player since 2015.
"Every time she gets the ball on her foot, she's making something happen, whether it's her scoring or creating an opportunity for someone else," Illini goalkeeper Izzy Lee said. "I think she's just so dynamic with the ball when she gets it, and I think teams are realizing that, and they'll focus on her, so it'll open up for our other players, as well."
Hultin had the benefit of carrying several players with multiple seasons of experience into her first season with the Illini, with Illinois winning its first seven matches for the first time since 2004.
Foley and the rest of Illinois' senior core -- including Howard and Lee -- have lived together since arriving on campus. Howard and Foley are current roommates while five of the six players from their recruiting class remain on the roster.
"It really makes a bond that you can't get any other way," Foley said. "The whole team, in general, everyone loves it here. Everyone loves each other."
Illinois' offensive production thus far in 2025 -- which includes four goals from Emma Yee and three goals from Cayla Jackson in addition to Foley's tally -- has paired with Lee allowing just one goal and posting 28 saves in seven games that include six shutouts.
"I think seeing us finish has been so fun to watch," Lee said. "And I think if you watch our first game to the six goals (against Valparaiso), you can see how much better it's gotten and how composed we are in the final third right now."
The Illini begin Big Ten play against Indiana (3-2-1) at 7 p.m. on Friday at Demirjian in Champaign, with Foley's class looking to put the Illini back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013.
"We would love to make the tournament this year, so we're ready to play how we normally do," Foley said. "If we do, I think we can do it."