Redbirds Score Season-High Five Goals in Win over Loyola

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's soccer team (8-5-2, 2-1 MVC) defeated the Ramblers of Loyola (10-5-0, 3-2 MVC), 5-3, Wednesday night on Adelaide Street Field. The Redbirds are on a five-game streak, scoring 12 goals in their last three games.

"Loyola is a tough team; they are one of the top-scoring teams in the country. We knew it was going to be a battle tonight, we knew they were going to be hungry," said head coach Brad Silvey. "I thought we matched it pretty well. We conceded the goal early on but it really woke us up. Our response to that was tremendous."

With the Ramblers coming into the match as one of the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, it was a slow start on both sides. Loyola took a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. The Redbirds answered with back-to-back goals in the 31st and 33rd minute by sophomore Mikayla Unger and senior Emily Dickman. With ISU up 2-1, Loyola found the back of the net to tie it up 2-2 going into halftime.

The second half started quickly for the Redbirds as Unger got her second goal of the match in the 46th minute off a cross from freshman Sarah Lafayette to give ISU the 3-2 advantage. Unger's goal lit a fire within the offense, leading to two more Redbird goals before the match was over. Sophomore Kate Del Fava got her first goal of the season in the 67th minute off a cross from senior Kelli Zickert. Freshman Natalie Vaughn-Low followed suit in the same minute with her first goal of the season off a through ball from Dickman inside the 18. The Redbirds kept the 5-2 lead until Loyola was able to get one past Redbird keeper Haley Smith in the 83rd minute. The goal was not enough for a Rambler comeback as the Redbirds held on for their second conference win and fifth win in a row this season. 

"We've been able to create a little bit of a buzz and a little bit of momentum for ourselves," said Silvey. "We've had a good home stretch but now we have to get back on the road and be able to perform at the same level. Our home record has been outstanding but we need to be able to do it on the road if we want to get some more results in the Valley."

The Redbirds hit the road Saturday when they head to Indiana State for a conference matchup against the Sycamores. The match is set for 6 p.m. CT in Terre Haute.

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