Redbirds Hit the Road for Back-to-Back Matches

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NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State soccer team (3-5-0) returns to action this weekend against a pair of teams from the Mid-American Conference when it travels to Ypsilanti, Michigan, to face Eastern Michigan (2-2-2) Friday at 4 p.m. CT, before heading to DeKalb, Illinois to take on Northern Illinois (1-4-1) Sunday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m.

Live stats will be available for both matches, and Sunday's contest can be viewed online on NIU All-Access via NIUHuskies.com for a fee. Fans can follow @Redbird_Soccer on Twitter for in-match updates as well.

Last Time Out
The Redbirds came off with a 2-0 win Sunday over North Dakota at Adelaide Street Field. ISU's offense struggled to collect itself in the first half until a goal by freshman Mikayla Unger gave the Redbirds the momentum boost they needed in the 16th minute. There was a flurry of shots by ISU, forcing North Dakota keeper Catherine Klein off the goal line. Unger collected the rebound off a shot by senior Brooke Ksiazek to get one past the keeper.

The second half began similar to the first, as the Redbird offense struggled to gain control and possess the ball. There was a series of fouls late in the second half, one of which was inside the box. Junior Emily Dickman took the penalty kick for the Redbirds and kicked a rocket over Klein's head into the top-left corner of the goal, extending ISU's lead to 2-0 with five minutes left to play. ISU finished the match with 34 shots and a season-high 12 shots on goal.

Eastern Michigan
2016 Season: 2-2-2
When: Friday, Sept. 16 - 4 p.m. CT
Where: Ypsilanti, Michigan (Scicluna Field)
Series History: Tied 2-2-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 4, 2015; Illinois State 2, Eastern Michigan 2 (2OT) (at Adelaide Street Field)
What You Need To Know: Eastern Michigan was picked to tie for fourth in the West Division in the MAC Preseason Poll and remain under the direction of 17-year head coach Scott Hall. Senior Ellie Tillar leads the Eagles with two goals on the season, while freshman Sabrina McNeil leads with 12 shots, with six coming on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Kaylin Williams has 24 saves and two shutouts this season. EMU is coming off a 2-1 win against Oregon State at home last week.

Northern Illinois
2016 Season: 1-4-1
When: Sunday, Sept. 18 - 2 p.m.
Where: DeKalb, Illinois (Soccer Complex)
Series History: ISU leads 10-3-1
Last Meeting: Aug. 22, 2014; Illinois State 4, Northern Illinois 1 (at Adelaide Street Field)
What You Need To Know: Taylor Sarver, a 2015 MAC All-Freshman Team selection, leads Northern Illinois with two goals on the season and also leads the way in shots (10) and shots on goal (7). Junior goalkeeper Amy Annala has 18 saves between the pipes while only allowing three goals in her four matches for the Huskies. NIU is coming off a pair of losses last weekend in Arizona to No. 23 Arizona (2-0) and Arizona State (3-0).

Up Next
After this weekend, the Redbirds return home to open conference play against Indiana State Friday, Sept. 23, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

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